Instant millionaires

Hefty incentives for Yulo, Petecio

MANILA, Philippines — Christmas came early for gymnast Carlos Edriel “Caloy” Yulo and boxer Nesthy Petecio, who will receive cash incentives worth P1 million each for emerging as world champions in their respective sport.

Yulo, 19, topped the men’s floor exercise to become the first Filipino gold medalist in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Stuttgart, Germany last Saturday while the 27-year-old Petecio ruled the featherweight division of the AIBA Women’s World Championship in Ulan-Ude, Russia the next day.

The pocket-sized wonder from Leveriza in Manila was supposed to receive P500,000 because the Stuttgart tilt was only an annual affair and not a biennial tournament that is required in Republic Act 10699 or the Expanded Incentives Act for an athlete to receive P1 million.

Petecio stands to receive P1 million since the event she participated in is being staged every two years and drew participation of more than the required number of 45 countries.

But the Philippine Sports Commission board decided to give Yulo a bonus of P500,000 for qualifying to next year’s Tokyo Olympics where he has a strong chance of ending the long search by the country for that elusive Olympic gold.

“They deserve these incentives,” said PSC chairman Butch Ramirez.

Felix Eumir Marcial will get P500,000 for a silver medal he snared in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia last month while pole vaulter EJ Obiena will get a slice of the  pie worth P250,000 as a reward for also making the Olympic cut.

“We will give all the support to our athletes whom we think are capable of winning a gold in the Olympics,” said Ramirez.

The PSC chief said the victorious athletes are set to pay President Duterte a courtesy call in Malacañang.