PNG offers cash bonus to winners

MANILA, Philippines - Participants in the Philippine National Games scheduled May 24-June 2 can look forward to more than just winning the gold.

Commissioner Jolly Gomez of the Philippine Sports Commission said winners of this year’s PNG may also receive cash incentives from their respective LGUs (local government units).

“There are two things going for the winners,” Gomez said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate where he briefed the media on the coming event.

“We are exerting efforts to have them included in the national training pool. Silently we are also making personal representations with the LGUs to give monetary rewards to the winners,” he said.

The different NSAs (national sports associations) can also consider giving cash incentives to outstanding athletes in their sport.

If it happens, it’s the first time gold medalists in the PNG will receive cash incentives. Gomez said it’s up the LGUs how much the winners would receive.

“It may not only be for the PNG but for future Palarong Pambansa stagings as well,” added Gomez, the overall chairman of the PNG organizing committee. 

The PNG is open to all athletes, including members of the national pool. 

A total of 41 sports will be played in different venues in and around Metro Manila and the PSC commissioner said he expects more than 6,000 individual athletes to compete.

Gomez said the PSC has earmarked P20 million for this year’s PNG and since all events are being held within Metro Manila, they may end up saving some money.

“We can save money because we don’t have to fly our national athletes and some of the equipment to places like Bacolod or Dumaguete,” said Gomez.

“But whatever we can save will be used for the next Batang Pinoy,” he said.

Most of the events like athletics, badminton, baseball, billiards, fencing, football, futsal, gymnastics, tennis, soft tennis, sepak takraw, swimming, taekwondo and volleyball will be held in PSC-operated venues like Philsports and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The other events like golf will be played at Sherwood Hills in Cavite, arnis in Pasay City, beach volleyball in UE Caloocan, judo and softball in Marikina and motocross in Bicutan.