GMA honors SEAG winners

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday handed over the Presidential Cash Incentives worth P3 million to all gold medallists of the recently-concluded Southeast Asean Games, calling them the new heroes of Philippine sports.

In a simple ceremony at Malacañang Palace, the President personally congratulated some 48 national athletes who bagged gold medals in different sports events led by double-gold medallist Eduardo Buenavista of athletics.

President Arroyo said the triumphant campaign of the local athletes in the SEA Games served as a solid inspiration for them to further work hard and unite to sustain the current momentum of the local sports.

The Philippines finished fifth place in the overall medal standings with 30 golds, 66 silvers and 67 bronzes.

The Presidential cash incentives consist of P100,000 for individual medallists while athletes who competed in team events will divide among themselves the P100,000 cash equivalent for a gold medal.

Chairman Carlos Tuason of Philippine Sports Commission, along with sports leaders from the Philippine Olympic Committee and National Sports Associations, also graced the ceremony.

"Our latest performance in the SEA Games suggests that we really need to adopt more training and re-focus our strategy and funding to sports where we have an edge over other countries," Tuason said.

Tuason added that the PSC is now preparing a proposal to create a "core-sports" program which will prioritize the sports where Filipinos excel. Alongside with it, the PSC is formulating a career development program plan for athletes/coaches who will be affected by the sports prioritization, giving them option to continue their studies through this program.

This initiative to be called the National System for Athletes Growth Program (NSAGP) will benefit all national athletes starting next year. The core idea is to provide alternative career paths for athletes undergoing training by extending academic, vocational, technical and livelihood courses that will supplement and compliment their future career.