X’mas to come early for medalists

The country’s medal winners in the Busan 14th Asian Games, led by sportswoman of the year Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, will receive a windfall of incentives totaling P11.5 million from the government in elaborate rites set two days before Christmas at the Casino Filipino Parañaque Ampitheater.

The incentives are provided for under Republic Act 9064, or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain and Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman Ephraim Genuino will distribute the incentives in the Dec. 23 ceremonies starting at 3 p.m.

Cojuangco-Jaworski, named top sportswoman of 2002 by the Philippine Sportswriters Association for her gold in equestrian’s showjumping, will receive the biggest incentive totaling P1.125 million, P1 million for her gold and P125,000 for her share in the silver medal winning team with Toni Leviste, Danielle Schulze Cojuangco and Michelle Barrera.

Under the incentives act, a gold medal is worth P1 million, a silver P500,000 and a bronze P100,000. Coaches are also entitled to cash incentives based on a certain percentage of their athletes’ winnings. "It would be one happy Christmas for our medal winners," said Buhain, stressing how wonderful it would be for an athlete to reap rewards for his effort from the government. "I’m sure this would help encourage the other athletes to do the same in all the major international competitions they participate in."

Genuino, who personally attended the Busan Asiad and found himself one of the Team Philippines’ most rabid cheerers, said: "This is good news not only for our medal winners but also to the other athletes. They deserve all the rewards and attention the government could give them for their efforts."

Paeng Nepomuceno and RJ Bautista in bowling’s men’s doubles and Django Bustamante and Antonio Lining in billiards‚ 9-ball doubles are also entitled to the P1 million incentives for their gold medals. They would have to split the bonus though since they competed in doubles events.

Thirty-three other Filipino athletes won the six other silvers and 16 bronzes in bowling, boxing, wushu, golf, billiards, shooting, rowing, karatedo and taekwondo in the Asiad that were held in October in the Korean port city.

Twenty national coaches who trained the winners will also receive incentives.