Bonuses for SEA Games winners mulled

There are good news and bad news to all Filipino athletes who won medals in the 22nd Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

First the bad news.

Under Republic Act 9064, only those who matched or surpassed the existing SEA Games record in their respective events will receive cash incentives from the government amounting to P100,000 for gold, P50,000 for silver and P10,000 for bronze medals.

Then the good news.

The Philippine Sports Commission, so ecstatic over the success of the RP campaign in Vietnam, is looking at a board resolution that would reward all 48 gold medalists P100,000 each, 54 silver medalists P50,000 each and 75 bronze medalists P10,000 each – regardless of any record.

"Chairman Eric Buhain, being a former athlete, will surely find a way to reward all these athletes. He just won’t let their accomplishments go unrewarded, whether you won the gold, silver or bronze and whether or not you broke the record ," said PSC executive director Ed Mateo yesterday.

Mateo said Buhain, in fact, has set up a meeting with the PSC board as soon as possible so they could discuss the matter. Under the plan, Mateo said the PSC would need around P7.2 million to reward all the Filipino medalists in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

With its incredible 48-54-75 medal haul, the Philippines landed fourth overall. It was quite a jump from fifth overall in Kuala Lumpur two years ago when it stashed away 31 gold, 65 silver and 67 bronze medals.

As hosts, Vietnam was crowned overall champion with 158-97-91, followed by Thailand’s 90-92-98 and Indonesia’s 55-68-98. Malaysia was a close fifth with 44-42-59.

The strong finish by the Philippines in Vietnam will also serve the country in good stead as it prepares for its hosting of the 11-nation biennial event in 2005.

"The athletes accomplished the mission for the country and it’s time for us to pay them back. Maganda ang ipinakita nila sa Vietnam," said Mateo.

Commissioner Butch Ramirez, who took care of the PSC affairs here while the Vietnam SEA Games went on, said it’s just appropriate for the sports agency to reward all the Filipino medalists.

"Under RA 9064, if you did not match or surpass the SEA Games record, you cannot avail of the cash incentives," he said, referring to the law that does not necessarily apply to medal winners in bigger international events like the Asian Games or the Olympics where a bigger cash bonanza awaits all medalists.

Ramirez said when RA 9064 was created almost two years ago, it was meant to encourage Filipino athletes to strive harder, go for the bigger marbles and not content themselves with winning the gold in the SEA Games which is considered the lowest form of regional competitions.

"Madami pala ang nabago sa RA 9064 as far as the SEA Games participation is concerned. So the handing out of cash incentives will be through a board resolution," Mateo added.

"There were some quarters who asked why the government should spend a lot on the SEA Games, in preparation, actual competition and handing out of cash incentives, when we should concentrate on the Asian Games or the Olympics.

"But our sports leaders explained that the SEA Games is just the stepping stone. It’s just the first step. And I understand them," Ramirez added.

Therefore, the PSC must act soon and find out where it can get cash incentives.

"The PSC can always find a way," he said.