MANILA - National athletes who received medals in the recently concluded SEA Games should receive more cash incentives, a senator said Friday.
Under Senator Sonny Angara's Senate Bill 1225 seeks to amend Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act to increase cash incentives for athletes by P20,000 to P100,000.
“With such a stellar performance, it is only fitting that our national athletes and their coaches receive higher incentives from the government as they go on to compete in other international competitions,” Angara said in a statement.
The proposed adjustments are as follows:
ASIAN GAMES
Gold medalists - P600,000 (from P500,000)
Silver medalists - P350,000 (from P250,000)
Bronze medalists - P150,000 (from P100,000)
SEA GAMES
Gold medalists - P400,000 (from P300,000)
Silver medalists - P200,000 (from P150,000)
Bronze medalists - P100,000 (from P60,000)
ASEAN PARA GAMES
Gold medalists - P200,000 (from P150,000)
Silver medalists - P125,000 (from P75,000)
Bronze medalists - P50,000 (from P30,000)
The bill did not indicate if Filipino Olympic medalists will also be entitled to higher cash rewards.
If approved, the government may have to shell out P95.10 million for the reward of the country's 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medalists.
"What our national athletes achieved in the SEA Games is truly historic and should be heralded," Angara said, noting that this year's 382 medals was the Philippines' most productive showing since joining the Games in 1977.
"It was not only how they performed in their respective sports, but the way they carried themselves during the games that captured the hearts of Filipinos and our ASEAN neighbors alike," the senator said.