Sen. Sonny Angara commends Filipino Para Games medal winners

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sonny Angara commended Filipino athletes who won medals in the recently concluded 2018 Asia Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, saying they await cash awards under the law for bringing pride and honor to the country.

“We would like to congratulate and commend our athletes with disabilities as well as their coaches and trainers for their outstanding performance. The cash rewards they will receive are well deserved under the expanded athletes incentive law,” said Angara in a statement.

Under Republic Act 10699, which Angara authored, Filipino athletes, including the differently-abled, and their coaches are entitled to cash incentives as a way of recognizing their achievement.

The Philippines ranked 11th in the medal tally, hauling 10 gold, eight silver and 11 bronze medals at the end of the meet last Friday.

Swimmer Ernie Gawilan, with three championships, led the gold-medal winners including Kiam Ian Chi in bowling, Sander Severino, Redor Menandro, Arman Subaste, Israel Peligro, Jasper Rom and Roger Henry Lopez in chess and Arthus Bucay in cycling.

The expanded law provides winners in the Asian Para Games with the following cash awards: P1 million for gold, P500,000 for silver and P200,000 for bronze.

Prior to the enactment of RA 10699, winning differently-abled athletes were granted only token incentives because they were not covered by the old National Athletes Incentives Law or RA 9064.

“What our para-athletes achieved is no easy task. Their triumph only proves that dedication and hard work know no boundaries so it is only fitting the entire country recognizes and rewards them,” Angara said.