AS AN EXPRESSION of recognition, gratitude and appreciation for their efforts, President Rodrigo R. Duterte doubled the incentives of the country’s medalists in the last 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
“President Duterte was very pleased by the performance of our athletes in the last Vietnam SEA Games and doubling their incentives is his way of recognizing and showing his appreciation for their efforts,” said Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, who led the courtesy call of the Philippine contingent at Malacañang on Tuesday evening.
Also present at the reception were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham Tolentino, Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, the national team chef de mission, Celia Kiram, Charles Maxey, Arnold Agustin, and Rep. Faustino Dy III, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports.
“Please know that I really recognize all the tedious preparations you have made to perform your best in this regional sports competition. Just like a father to every Filipino, I am very proud of you,” Mr. Duterte told athletes, coaches and sports officials present at the reception held at the Rizal Hall.
“I wish you all a good life para sa ginawa ninyo sa bayan. I would like to say to all of you, maraming, maraming salamat,” the Chief Executive said with emotion in his off-the-cuff remarks to the assembly.
The President’s generous goodwill gesture meant that he was matching again the P34,537,500 in total cash incentives that all of the medalists will receive under Republic Act 10699, the incentives law.
Under the law, an individual gold medal is worth P300,000, a silver, P150,000, and P60,000 for the bronze.
The Filipino campaigners returned home with 52 gold, 70 silver and 105 bronze medals finishing fourth overall in the medal standings of the 11-nation biennial meet held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and neighboring areas.
Thus, gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, who is set to receive P1.6 million from the five golds and two silvers he garnered in the Vietnam SEA Games, now gets a whopping P3.2 million for his outstanding achievements in Hanoi.
The dynamic dancesport duo of Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla, who bagged three golds, on the other hand, now is rewarded with P1.8 million apiece. Kim Mangrobang, who swept the women’s triathlon and duathlon events, and billiards star Rubilen Amit, who ruled the women’s 9-ball and 10-ball competitions, will get P600,000 each for their respective golden doubles.
Besides bonuses, the President also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Kamagi to some of the medalists who were not recipients of the citation during the incentives ceremony held at the Palace also presided by Mr. Duterte for the country’s medalists in the 30th SEA Games in 2019.
Among those who received the honor was billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, who took the bronze medal in the men’s one-cushion carom singles.
The Kamagi Medal is awarded to officials and personnel of the government and private individuals who actively participated in and contributed to a campaign or advocacy of the President.