Palace to award P3M to SEA Games heroes

As promised by President Arroyo, Malacañang will soon release P3 million to be divided among the Filipino athletes, who won 30 gold medals in last month’s 21st Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

The President made the promise last Aug. 30 when the 500-strong RP delegation to the biennial meet made a courtesy call at Malacañang. The amount will be drawn from the President’s social fund.

Only the gold medalists can avail themselves of the presidential incentive. This way, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason, athletes will strive harder for the gold and not content themselves winning the silver or bronze medals.

Tuason said the Presidential Management Staff, which relayed the good news to the PSC yesterday, will soon announce the date when the cash incentives would be distributed by the President.

Filipino medalists in the KL Games have already received close to P10 million in cash incentives with the PSC handing out P100,000 to gold medalists, P50,000 to the 66 silver medalists and P25,000 to the 67 bronze medalists for a total of P7,975,000.

The Kaibigan ni GMA Foundation, through First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, has also awarded a total of P2,010,500 with P25,000 to gold, P12,500 to silver and P6,500 to bronze medalists.