By Alec Go
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening (Aug. 9) announced his office will grant additional cash incentives to country’s athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics.
The announcement was made during the Philippine Boxing Team’s courtesy call on Duterte after their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal II on Monday afternoon.
“In addition to what the law gives you – the P5 million [for] silver medalists and the bronze medalists’ P2 million, my office, the Office of the President will grant additional cash incentives to our athletes in the Tokyo Olympics,” Duterte said.
Women’s featherweight silver-medalist Nesthy Petecio and flyweight division second placer Carlo Paalam will be given additional P2 million, on top of the P5 million granted to silver-medalist Olympic athletes under the law.
Eumir Felix Marcial, who took home bronze in the men’s middleweight semifinal, will receive P1 million from the Office of the President. This is in addition to the P2 million incentive from the national government.
“The medalists will receive the Order of Lapu-Lapu. That is an honor given by the Republic of the Philippines to those who have excelled in something, and brought honor to the country,” Duterte said.
“It is not an everyday occurrence that we receive such an honor from our citizens of the Republic of the Philippines. You went to Tokyo to fight, and I… say that you did your best and the Filipino people appreciate it, especially bringing honor to the country,” he added.
The Chief Executive said other Filipinos Olympians who were not able to get a podium finish will be given P200,000 each.
“I do not care about winning, that is why they will receive P200,000. All of you. All other Olympians will receive from my office… Kung medyo tingin ninyo na kulang pa, pakialam lang, sabihin, at dagdagan pa natin,” he said.
Last month, Duterte also pledged P3 million to Olympic weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz. This is on top of the 10 million granted to Olympic gold medalists by the government.
The Philippines ranked 47th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with one gold, two silvers, and one bronze. – rir
