MANILA, Philippines - Medalists in the sixth ASEAN Paragames and their coaches yesterday received their belated rewards amounting to P1.65 million for reaping honors in last month’s competition for differently-abled athletes in Solo, Indonesia.
The achievers, who snared 23 gold medals, the same number of silvers, and 18 bronzes to finish fifth overall in the games, enjoyed the spotlight during simple rites at the Philippine Sports Commission.
Josephine Medina, winner of four gold medals, one silver and one bronze in table tennis, led the recipients with a total of P87,500, and swimming triple gold medalist Ernie Gawilan (P75,000) as per the PSC’s incentives scheme of P25,000 for gold, P15,000 for silver and P10,000 for bronze.
Their mentors were also handed bonuses by PSC chairman Richie Garcia and Pagcor AVP Henry Reyes, headed by Antonio Ong of swimming (P115,000) and Joel Deriada and Bernard Buen of athletics (P85,000 each).
While the achievers basked in glory, they took the opportunity to bat for amendments to RA 9064 or the Incentives Act. At present, only abled or regular athletes and coaches are entitled to windfall from the government while the PSC is taking it upon itself to reward differently-abled medalists, albeit of smaller amount.
“We’ve been trying to lobby for the passage of amendment to RA 9064 to recognize the national athletes with disabilities, too, so they can receive same incentives, retirement benefits, insurance, etc. as abled or regular athletes do, “ said Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (Philspada) president Mike Barredo.
He reasoned out that just like the SEA Games, Asian Games or Olympics, the differently-abled athletes go through the eye of the needle in their own games, like the ASEAN Paragames, the Asian Paragames and the Paralympics.