THIS time around, cash incentives for medallists in the recent 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be bigger.
Around 121 medalists from the national team will be among the first recipients of this.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez and Senator Sonny Angara said this after the athletes who won gold medals were feted this week by their respective sponsors.
Ramirez said the incentives, which will amount to around P12.790 million will be awarded in simple rites on Sept. 13.
“We wrote a letter to Malacanang about this, about the giving of the incentives,” said Ramirez.
Under Republic Act 10699, SEA Games gold medalists will each receive P300,000, silver medalists will pocket P150,000, while bronze medalists will get P60,000.
Before the enactment of the law in November of 2015, SEA Games gold medalists were only entitled to P100,000 cash incentives, silver medalists were to receive P50,000, and bronze medalists were to get P10,000.
Angara, in a statement, said the higher incentives are possible after he and four other lawmakers sponsored the law increasing the incentives and benefits for the winning national athletes.
“We are very proud of our winning athletes. Bilang pasasalamat at pagkilala sa kanilang pagkapanalo, mas malaking insentibo po ang naghihintay sa kanilang pagbabalik,” said Angara.
The other senators who authored the law, include Senators Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto, Cynthia Villar and former senator Pia Cayetano.
Among the country’s most lucrative events were athletics, boxing, billiards, gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, triathlon, and basketball.
The Philippine delegation failed to meet its target of 50 gold medals and ended the campaign with the country’s worst finish in the SEA Games since 1999.
“Maaari pong may pagkukulang tayo sa preparasyon at pagsasanay ng ating mga atleta. Corrective and remedial measures must be undertaken especially since we are about to host the next SEA Games in 2019,” Angara said.
