Robredo, Angara hail Medina for Rio Paralympics bronze

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo  yesterday lauded the feat of  Filipina table tennis player Josephine Medina, who won a bronze medal in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

At the same time, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara has filed a resolution commending Medina for ending the country’s 16-year medal drought.

Robredo said Medina, 46, serves as an inspiration to every Filipino, especially those who have disabilities and the youth.

“You are a reminder to us all that we can transcend our limitations and achieve our dreams,” Robredo said.

Medina is only the second Filipino to get a medal in the Paralympic Games, following powerlifter Adeline Dumapong, who bagged a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.

Angara said 46-year old player is entitled to a P1 million cash incentive under the new athletes incentives law or Republic Act 10699.

“This is truly one of the noblest intentions of the law – to include our winning athletes with disabilities in the grant of cash awards from the government. The term ‘national athletes’ should encompass all athletes including those who are differently-abled as they undoubtedly deserve bigger incentives and benefits,” said Angara, author and sponsor of RA 10699.

She claimed the second Paralympic medal for the Philippines after beating Germany’s Juliane Wolf 3-0 on Tuesday morning (Manila time). Reigning champion Jungian Mao of China retained the gold title, while France’s Thu Kamkasomphou took home the silver.

Prior to the enactment of RA 10699, winning differently-abled athletes were granted only token incentives.

Dumapong-Ancheta was given a cash reward of P500,000 for her feat – P200,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission and P300,000 from then President Joseph Estrada.

Under the new law, Paralympics gold medalists will get P5 million each, the silver medalists P2.5 million each, and the bronze medalists P1 million each, while the coaches stand to get cash incentives equivalent to half of the amount the winning athletes will receive.

Just last month, Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won a historic silver medal and received P5 million in cash incentives.

“This is the first time our Filipino athletes won in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, which is the counterpart of the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities,” Angara said.