President Arroyo is to award tomorrow cash incentives totaling P10.3 million to Filipino athletes who won medals in the recent 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
The athletes, accompanied by Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission top officials, get the incentives as they make a courtesy call on the President at Malacañang’s Heroes Hall.
Swimmer Miguel Molina is to get the biggest amount of P335,000 for winning four gold medals, an excellent feat that earned him the Games’ Most Valuable Player award.
The US-trained tanker won gold medals in the 200-meter breaststroke, 200m and 400m Individual Medley and as part of the triumphant 4x100m medley relay team. He also earned the bronze in the 200m freestyle.
The Philippines harvested 41 gold, 91 silver and 96 bronze medals in a sixth place finish in the Thai meet.
“We’re not sad. We’re going to show these medals to the President. After all, that’s 228 medals, including 91 silver medals that could have been gold,” said Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez.
As mandated by Republic Act 9064, athletes who deliver medals in international competitions like the Olympics, the World Championships, Asian and Southeast Asian Games are to receive monetary incentives.
Individual SEAG gold medallists will receive P100,000 each while the silver and bronze medal winners receive P50,000 and P10,000, respectively.
Team events with less than five members will receive the same amount while those who have five or more members will receive twice the amount.
President Arroyo may also give the athletes extra Christmas bonus.
“Of course, there will be Christmas gifts to the winners. Even if you don’t win the overall title, the medal winners will receive a Christmas gift,” the President was quoted as saying during send-off ceremony.
Ramirez said coaches who rendered services to the medal winners at least one year before the SEAG will be given their own incentives.
Meanwhile, newly appointed PSC commissioner Eric Loretizo, a former media man, will be sworn in during the courtesy meeting with President Arroyo.
“I have had my experience in sports both as a media man and a sports man, I’m on familiar ground,” said Loretizo.