P12-M CASH BONUS NAGHIHINTAY SA ASEAN PARA GAMES MEDALISTS

HALOS P12 million na halaga ng cash incentives ang ipagkakaloob ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) sa mga medalist ng 11th ASEAN Para Games (APG) na idinaos sa Solo, Indonesia kamakailan.

Nasa 80 Filipino para-athletes mula sa siyam na sports — archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, judo, powerlifting, swimming, at table tennis — ang nagtagumpay sa kanilang misyon sa APG sa pagwawagi ng 104 medals — 28 gold, 30 silver, at 46 bronze medals, sapat para sa fifth-place finish overall sa 11-nation showpiece.

Ito ang best performance ng bansa magmula noong 2009 Games sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia na may 24 gold, 24 silver, at 26 bronze medals.

Sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 10699 o ang Expanded National Athletes and Coaches Incentives and Benefits Act, ang gold, silver, at bronze medalists sa ASEAN Para Games ay tatanggap ng cash incentives na P150,000, P75,000, at P30,000, ayon sa pagkakasunod-sunod.

“Our para-athletes showcased their grit and hunger for success in the APG. The support of the Filipino people provided through the PSC are truly reciprocated.” pahayag ni PSC Officer-in-Charge at Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr.

Tatanggap si FIDE Master Sander Severino ng national para chess team, na itinanghal na most bemedalled Filipino athlete sa Game, ng P500,000 cash reward makaraang magwagi ng 4 gold at 2 silver medals sa individual at team categories.

Tatanggapin naman nina para swimmers Angel Otom at Ariel Joseph Alegarbes ang tig-P450,000 para sa kanilang medal-winning performance na tig-3 golds. Tatanggap si paralympian Ernie Gawilan ng P382,500 para sa kanyang 2 golds, 1 silver at 1 bronze.

“We hope that this reward will give them an extra morale boost to keep reaching for their dreams. We thank all our national para-athletes for all their sacrifices and taking pride in raising our flag here and in their coming competitions,” sabi ni Iroy.

Binigyang kredito ni Deputy Chef de Mission Tricia Rana ang suporta ng PSC sa tagumpay ng koponan. Ang PSC ay nagkaloob sa para-athletes ng kaparehong benepisyo, allowances, at incentives sa regular athletes, na pinaniniwalaan nilang isa sa pinakamalaking morale boosters.

“Aside from the determination of our athletes, plus nag-inspire sa kanila to give honor and to give back to what the government through the Philippine Sports Commission is giving them. Malaking tulong po talaga ang ginawa ng PSC,” sabi ni DCDM Rana.

Inaayos na ng PSC ang courtesy call kay Presidente Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. kung saan plano ring isagawa ang pagkakaloob ng insentibo.