On-the-spot cash rewards in Busan

This time, Filipino medal winners in the Busan Asian Games in September won’t have to wait long before they receive their cash incentives from the Philippine Sports Commission.

Eric Buhain, chairman o f the PSC, recently told The STAR that unlike in the past, the government sports agency will award the cash incentives to the medal winners during the games itself.

Buhain said the PSC, which will spend P30 million for the country’s actual participation to the quadrennial games, will allocate another P20 million as part of the incentives package.

"We’re bringing P20 million (in checks) to Busan for the incentives and we will give them to the winning athletes right there," said Buhain of the plan that could further boost the athletes’ morale.

Under Republic Act 9064, gold medal winners in the Asian Games are entitled to a P1 million bonanza while silver medalists will receive P500,000 and bronze medalists P100,000.

During the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, the country only brought home a single gold medal courtesy of billiards although sports officials are confident of winning more in Busan.

The PSC, through the help of Pagcor, recently distributed P30 million in cash incentives to 180 athletes who have brought honor to the country in past competitions like the Olympics, Asian Games and different World Championships.

Among the athletes who were honored were bowlers Bong Coo and Paeng Nepomuceno and boxers Anthony Villanueva and Mansueto Velasco. President Arroyo was on hand during the awarding.