PSC grants bonus for Para medalists

MANILA, Philippines — Christmas will come early for Filipino athletes and coaches who brought home medals from the 11th ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia last August as they stand to receive cash incentives worth around P12 million from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo thanked PSC chairman Noli Eala for helping facilitate the release of the bonus for the national team members who raked in 28 gold, 30 silver and 46 bronze medals in the Solo Para Games.

“Receiving these cash incentives will be of great help to our national para athletes and coaches considering in these times of financial difficulty,” said Barredo, currently in Germany to attend the International Paralympic Committee extraordinary general assembly.

Based on Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, a gold in the event is worth P150,000, silver and a bronze P75,000 and P30,000, respectively.

The coaches, for their part, will get half of what the athletes received.

“Hopefully this will serve as motivation for our Para athletes to prepare even better in the coming international competitions next year such as the 12th ASEAN Para Games and 4th Asian Para Games,’’ said Barredo.

“Again, we congratulate our athletes and coaches headed by chef de mission and Philippine Paralympic Committee secretary-general Walter Francis Torres for a job well done and for making our countrymen proud of their achievements,’’ he added.