Cash incentive awaits Moreno

SHANGHAI – The Philippine Sports Commission will see to it that archer Luis Gabriel Moreno is rewarded for his golden performance in the second Youth Olympic Games.

Chairman Richie Garcia of the PSC said Tuesday that while the YOG is not covered by Republic Act 9064, also known as the Incentives Act, the 16-year-old archer deserves something in return.

Big or small.

“By law, the YOG is not covered but it is part of the amendments of the new Incentives Act which is pending in Congress,” said the PSC chief over the phone.

“The PSC can give but it will not be a big amount,” said Garcia, who didn’t say how much Moreno, the first Filipino to win a medal in the YOG, would receive.

“We will make the proper presentation,” added Garcia, now back in Manila after keeping the seven Filipino athletes company during the Nanjing competitions.

By tradition, Moreno should pay a courtesy call on President Aquino, and Malacañang, also by tradition, rewards athletes who bring honors to the country.

Moreno, the flag-bearer of the small Philippine contingent here, won archery’s mixed team event with his female partner from China, Li Jiaman.

The victory came on the final day of action for the Filipinos following the exits of entries in triathlon, swimming, shooting, track and field and gymnastics.

Moreno was the last man standing for the Philippines, and he ended up in the winners’ podium with the gold medal.

The student of La Salle Greenhills stood proudly on the podium during the awarding ceremony as he and his Chinese teammate waved to the crowd.

It was a priceless moment for the young athlete.

“This is for my family and the Philippines,” said Moreno, who won the gold as his father, the president of the national archery association back home, watched from the stands.

Under the Incentives Act, a gold medal in the Olympics is worth P5 million, a silver medal P2.5 million and the bronze P1 million.

There are also corresponding amounts for each medal won in quadrennial World Championships, Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games.

In the World Championships, each gold is worth P2.5 million, the Asian Games P1 million and the SEA Games P100,000.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco has long been pushing for amendments in the law because of the growing number of high-level competitions.

Cojuangco noted that under the law, a bronze medal in the SEA Games is only worth P10.000.

“Hindi na sapat eh,” said the POC chief, who also mentioned the Asian Beach Games, the Asian Martial Arts Championships or the YOG as among the events that should be covered by RA 9064.

“That is why we are pushing for the amendments,” said Garcia, adding that Moreno’s victory should make all Filipinos proud.

“We are very happy. This is the Youth Olympics. This is our first gold medal in the Olympics. Ito ang unang gold na napanalunan ng kahit na sinong Pilipino sa Olympics,” he said.

“We are very proud of our athletes,” Garcia added.

He wants credit where credit is due.