Cash incentives come late to four coaches

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 21 coaches of past sports achievers belatedly received their legally-mandated incentives amounting to P9.5 million, four of whom did not live to see the day.

The late Alfonso dela Rosa, who coached his wife Lita to a number of medals in the 1978 Asian Games, and 1979 and 1983 World FIQ meets, was the biggest recipient with P1.88 million, followed by 78-year-old Toti Lopa with P1.64 million and Sen. Tito Sotto (P1.53 million), also of bowling.

“My father was really expecting this until he died of heart aneurysm in 2004 at 72, “ said dela Rosa’s son and namesake, Alfonso Jr., who received the check from Pagcor president/COO Jorge Sarmiento, PSC chairman Richie Garcia and POC president Peping Cojuangco during simple rites yesterday at the PSC.

For his part, newly elected Philippine Bowling Congress president Lopa said: “I’m very grateful for this. Coaches like me usually view the victories of our athletes as rewards in themselves so this incentive is already a bonus.”

The late Francisco “Tatang” de Vega, the man behind the success of Asia’s sprint queen Lydia, was among the recipients. His granddaughter, Stephanie Mercado, received the check worth P437,500 on behalf of her mother Lydia, who’s in Singapore.

“On behalf of my mother, we’d like to express our gratitude for this incentive. Even if grandpa is no longer with us, his contribution to sports is still being remembered,” said Mercado, a member of UAAP volleyball champion DLSU. “And my mother also wishes our athletes good luck in their next competitions.”

Other recipients were Jojo Posadas (P50,000), Claro Pellosis (187,500), and Marcelo Langurayan (P137,500) of athletics; Ollie Ongtawco (P306,250), Del Garcia (P206,250), the late Angel Nepomuceno (P745,833), Jaime Hizon (P708,333), Lolita Reformado (P83,333), Johnson Cheng (P350,000), Vicente Valdez (P112, 500), Bonifacio Solis (P62,500) and the late Nicanor Cerdena (P375,000) of bowling;

Ricardo Fortaleza (P62,500) and Jacinto Diaz (P62,500) of boxing; and Jesus Morales (P50,000), Victor Manuel Veneracion (P150,000) and Dr. Manolo Gabriel (P375,000) of taekwondo.

The windfall was released by virtue of Republic Act 9064 or the National Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2011.

Pagcor and the PSC earlier released P2 million for the first batch of coaches last year.