POC offers own cash bonus to medalists

Not to be outdone, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) yesterday said it is preparing its own incentive package that awaits Filipino medal winners in the Athens Olympics this August.

Celso Dayrit, the POC chief, did not reveal how much it costs but assured that it would be just as lucrative as the one they prepared for 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medalist Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco.

"We’re working on it," Dayrit told reporters yesterday, a day after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced a bigger bonus scheme for Filipino athletes who will shine in the quadrennial event.

The PSC is mandated by law (Republic Act 9064) to hand out P5 million to Olympic gold medalists, P2.5 million to silver medalists and P1 million for bronze medalists. There are smaller incentives that go to winners in the SEA Games and Asian Games.

President Arroyo and electronics giant Samsung have said they will match these incentives.

Velasco received millions of pesos from the government and took another windfall from the private sector, like Violago Homes (not Viologo as earlier reported) and Nissan, with the POC providing the link.

Dayrit said the POC is working out the bonus scheme with the help of the private sector although he did not say which firms or companies will be behind them. But of course, it shouldn’t be a problem by the time a medal has been won.

Dayrit said he will announce the details of the POC incentives once it is formalized.

While the PSC takes care of the selection and training of the Athens-bound Filipino athletes, the POC will shoulder their actual participation to the Summer Games — from plane fare to board and lodging.

The POC, a private entity representing the different National Sports Association (NSAs), will also provide allowances for the 14 Filipino athletes who were also given a $2,500 training allowance under the Olympic Solidarity Movement.