PSC to release coaches bonus

After a three-month delay, the Philippine Sports Commission will release today the cash incentives due to coaches of medal-winning athletes in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday said the sports agency will give the incentives amounting to P4,851,227.83 pending the release of the Pagcor funds.

“I feel that this is my responsibility, that’s why we responded to the coaches’ call to release the incentives due them,” said Ramirez.

Billiards and snooker coach Ricardo Ancaja will receive the biggest amount worth P135,000 for steering his team to three gold, two silver and four bronze medals in the biennial meet.

Walter Torres and Venerando Garcia of fencing, which snared three gold, six silver and seven bronze medals, came next as they are set to receive P128,750 each while swimming, which won the most medals with an eight-gold, three-silver and seven-bronze haul, will reward Carlos Brosas, Jeff Poppel, Jason Calanog, Andy Astfalck and Archimedes Lim P84,997.58 each.

Joseph Sy and Luisito Artiaga of athletics, which claimed five gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals, is set to receive P100,000 each while fellow track and field mentors Agustin Jarina, Jr., Lerma Gabito, Roselyn Hamero, Romeo Gido, Nixon Mas, Sean Guevarra and Isidro del Prado will get P80,000, P55,000, P35,000, P25,000, P25,000, P10,000 and P15,000, respectively.

Samson Co and Lester Pimentel of wushu, which has two gold, two silver and three bronze medals, will receive P105,000 and P60,000, respectively, while Chris Cuarto of lawn tennis, which won a gold, two silver and four bronze medals, will get P95,000.

“It’s been a long three-month wait for them, it’s time they get to enjoy what they worked hard for,” said Ramirez.

The amount was part of the incentive due the athletes as mandated by Republic Act 9064 or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act where coaches who steered their athletes to medals in international meets like the Olympics, Asian Games and the SEA Games get a corresponding incentive like their athletes.