Asiad medalists get P11.5-M incentives

The government caps a year of unwavering support to sports by dishing out cash bonuses totaling more than P11.5 million to the medalists in the 14th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, in ceremonies set tomorrow at the Villamor Golf Club Social Hall.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain and Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chief Ephraim Genuino will distribute the checks to the medal winners led by gold medal winners Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Django Bustamante, Antonio Lining, Paeng Nepomuceno and RJ Bautista in the ceremonies starting at 3 p.m.

The incentives are provided for under Republic Act 9064, or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act. Under the incentives act, a gold medal in the Asian Games 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 wards’ winnings.

With the three gold, seven silver and 16 bronze medals won out of Busan, the government through PAGCOR, will reward the athletes with a total P8.6 million and give the coaches of these athletes P2.9 million.

"It would be one Christmas our medal winners would definitely always remember," said Buhain. "I’m sure this would help encourage other athletes to do the same in all the major international competitions they participate in.

Cojuangco-Jaworski, named top sportswoman of 2002 by the Philippine Sportswriters Association, bagged the equestrian showjumping individual gold medal in Busan and was with Toni Leviste, Danielle Schulze Cojuangco and Michelle Barrera in the silver medal-winning showjumping team. Those medals give her the most bonuses with P1.125 million–P1 million for her gold and P.125 million for her share in the silver medal.

"This is to underscore government’s commitment to sports and to the national athletes. We hope that this incentive scheme would further encourage other athletes and coaches to continuously strive in their endeavors," said Genuino.

Nepomuceno and RJ Bautista won bowling’s gold in men’s doubles and Bustamante and Lining topped billiards’ 9-ball doubles, entitling them to the gold medal incentive of P1 million.

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 held in October in the Korean port city.

Also climbing the stage to receive their incentives are 20 coaches who helped steer their athletes to booking the country’s best finish in the Asiad in 16 years.