PSC readies cash incentives

Will also honor SEAG medalists

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission will not take much time before releasing the cash incentives for athletes who won medals for the country in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

The Games are entering the closing stages with only two days of competition left, and the PSC is preparing the cash incentives for the medal winners.

Chairman William Ramirez yesterday said the cash incentives will be awarded no later than Sept. 14 or two weeks after the close of the competition.

In the past, athletes had to wait longer to receive their bonuses, as well as the coaches, who also stand to receive cash incentives.

“Maybe after two weeks, may mga awards na tayo para sa mga bata (we can give out the awards),” said  Ramirez yesterday.

The PSC chairman is looking at Sept. 14 as the day the entire SEA Games delegation can be gathered for thanksgiving.

“We can hand out the incentives on Sept. 14. The whole assembly. We can enjoy lunch and then hand them out,” said Ramirez.

Under the revised Republic Act 9064, SEA Games medalists will get P300,000 for the gold, P150,000 for a silver and P60,000 for the bronze.

“Then it’s back to work,” said the sports chief who opted to stay behind and focus on the national grassroots program the PSC is trying to put in place.

“It’s not my job to be there (in Kuala Lumpur),” he said.

With medals still up for grabs, the Philippines is in sixth place behind host Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

So far, Trent Anthony Beram of track and field is the only Filipino double-gold medalist or multiple-medal winner in this SEA Games.

Beram, a Fil-foreign athlete, won the gold in the men’s 200m and 400m races and the silver in the men’s 4x100m relay.

With those victories, he will receive P600,000 plus his share in the relay victory.

Members of the boxing team will get more than the others because of the additional incentive from amateur boxing patron Manny V. Pangilinan, who shells out an extra P300,000 for every gold, P200,000 for every silver and P100,000 for every bronze – for the boxers.

Middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial and light-heavyweight John Tupas Marvin won the gold medals, and on top of the P300,000 from the PSC will get another P300,000 from the MVP Group.

Bantamweight Mario Fernandez settled for the silver while flyweight Ian Clark Bautista and light-welterweight Charly Suarez took the bronze.