Pagcor aid to athletes cited

Veteran athletes expressed their appreciation to the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) yesterday for funding the implementation of a new law granting cash and other non-monetary benefits to national athletes, coaches and trainers who brought honor to the country by winning in quadrennial events such as the Olympics and the Asian Games.

Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino announced recently that Pagcor is setting aside a budget of P100 million this year to fund Republic Act 9064. It will be remitted as a special account to the National Sports Development Fund of the Philippine Sports Commission. Genuino said this amount is in addition to PSC’s regular share from Pagcor’s income, which in 2001 reached P370 million.

"Kami’y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa tulong na binibigay ng Pagcor. Ito na lang talaga ang inaasahan namin. Malaking ginhawa ito sa aming pamilya at sa mga matatandang atletang walang-wala na talaga," said retired track queen Elma Muros-Posadas.

"Maganda ang ginawa ngayon ng gobyerno ni Presidente Arroyo sa mga atleta dahil sa pamamagitan ng bagong batas, nabibig-yan kami ng importansya. Yung iba ko kasing kasama namatay na nang wala man lang nakuha," said champion weightlifter Jaime Sebastian who is suffering from hypertension and kidney disease. He garnered a total of 19 gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and a silver medal in the Asian Games.

Under Republic Act 9064, Olympic titleholders in individual events will receive P5 million, P2.5 million, and P 1 million for the gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. Medalists in the quadrennial world championships will receive P2.5 million, P1 million and P500,000 while SEA Games titlists shall get P100,000, P50,000, and P10,000.