Representing President Rodrigo Duterte during yesterday’s awarding of incentives for the medalists of the 2018 Asian Paragames and 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Malcanang, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea congratulated all the winners saying, “that the President and I are truly proud of your success.”
In his speech, the Executive Secretary expressed the Palace’s joy over the achievements of our national athletes in the said international events which “showed their competitors and the rest of the world the true fighting spirit and drive for excellence that the international community have come to know and expect from Filipinos.”
A total of P36,150,000.00 was released yesterday for the RA 10699-mandated incentives for both athletes and coaches. Para-athlete Ernie Gawilan who won 3 golds and 2 silvers in swimming got five checks totaling P4 Million, the highest incentive in the batch. Chess’ Sander Severino who won 4 gold medals took home P2.6 Million. Our lone medalist in the YOG, Christian Tio received P2.5 Million for his silver finish in Kiteboarding.
Medialdea cited the incentives as “a token of our people’s appreciation and a reward for their commitment and hardwork.”
Both Gawilan and Severino expressed elation over the released monetary reward, as did the other winners present.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez, who awarded the checks along with Medialdea and PSC Commissioners Mon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin, Charles Maxey and Celia Kiram, disclosed that “this is the first batch of para athletes winning in the Asian level who benefitted from RA 10699. We are happy that we are answering the call of the president to make sports inclusive and accessible to the people.”
