Cash windfall awaits RP SEAG medalists

In a bid to boost the athletes’ morale, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason said the other day that the government sports agency is looking for ways to increase the cash incentives that await Filipino gold medalists in the forthcoming Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Under Republic Act 9064, which was signed by President Arroyo last April 5, gold medalists in the SEA Games will receive P100,000, silver medalists P50,000 and bronze medalists P10,000. At least 321 Filipino athletes will see action in the biennial meet set Sept. 8 to 17.

"We will try to increase the incentives for gold medal winners," said Tuason during a press conference where the SEA Games Task Force bared the composition of the RP delegation. The official list was handcarried to Kuala Lumpur by chief of mission Freddie Jalasco yesterday.

"We are looking for possible sources of the additional funds," said the PSC chairman, adding that if such an increase is approved, it will be for the benefit of the gold medal winners only. This way, the athletes would strive harder for the gold than just content themselves with the silver or the bronze.

Cash incentives being awarded Filipino athletes normally come from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), which represents the monthly Pagcor contributions of close to P20 million to the PSC.

The SEA Games Task Force has come up with a conservative figure of 40 gold medals for the Filipinos in the Malaysian capital. If this goal is achieved, it would mean a cash incentive of P4 million under RA 9064, excluding silver and bronze medalists.

Tuason added that the P30 million reserved by the PSC for the actual SEA Games participation might fall short by at least P2.5 million due to the recent peso devaluation, which has led to an eight percent inflation rate. Tuason said the peso-dollar rate was pegged at P52 when the budget was finalized. The current rate stands a shade under P54.