(Para mapalakas ang Olympic bid) P2-M AID KAY HIDILYN

NAKATAKDANG tumanggap si Asian weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz ng P2 million na halaga ng sponsorship para sa kanyang pagsasanay, base sa naging kasunduan ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at ng Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc.

Ang nasabing halaga ay gagamitin ni Diaz sa kanyang paghahanda para sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics, sa pag-asang maging unang Filipino na nagwagi ng gold medal sa Games.

Ang kasunduan ay nilagdaan nina PSC Chairman William I. Ramirez at Phoenix Petroleum Services, Inc. President and CEO Dennis Uy sa Guest House ng  Malacañang noong Huwebes ng hapon.

“I am very happy. I saw a very classical example of partnership between a government and private sector. We saw the initiative of Senator Bong Go, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Mr. Dennis Uy, to support Hidilyn Diaz bound for Olympics. This will inspire our Filipino athletes that if they perform a private sector and government will help,” wika ni Ramirez sa ceremonial signing.

Naniniwala si Ra­mirez na ang karagdagang financial assistance mula sa Phoenix Petroleum Philippines ay makatutulong din sa ahensiya pag-da­ting sa kanilang financial ­responsibility sa ­national athletes.

“Instead of funding these athletes, it reduces some of our financial responsibility because a private sector is coming in,” dagdag ni Ramirez.

Masaya naman si Uy, na siya ring Presidential Adviser for Sports, sa pagsuporta kay Diaz.

“Kami naman ay laging sumusuporta sa atletang Filipino in our quest for our 1st Olympic gold. Me, personally wants to support all our athletes capable of bringing 1st Olympic gold. I wish Hidilyn good luck in all her competitions all the way to the Olympics,” ani Uy.

Sakop ng P2-million na halaga ng sponsorship mula sa Phoenix ang training, housing allowance, food, strength and conditioning, local transportation, training uniform, equipment, competition uniform, overseas training allowance at contingency fund ni Diaz hanggang sa Tokyo 2020.

“Masaya and grateful ako sa ibinigay nilang support for me and the preparations towards Tokyo 2020,” anang 28-anyos na si Diaz na umaa-sang mawawakasan ang gold medal drought ng Filipinas sa susunod na taon kung saan target niya ang ika-4 na sunod na pagsabak sa Olympiad.         Ang P2-M ay dagdag na financial support  kay Diaz na tumatanggap ng P48,000 monthly allowance mula sa PSC, bukod pa sa P4.5-million training support fund na ipinagkaloob ng ahensiya para sa kanyang pagsasanay ngayong taon.

Dumalo rin sa MOA signing sina Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Committee on Sports Chairman at Senator Bong Go, Phoenix Vice President Attorney Raymond Zorilla, PSC Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey at Celia Kiram.