PSC eyes early incentives release

THE PHILIPPINE Sports Commission is bent on distributing at least P6 million in incentives to the medalists of the Burma (Myanmar) Southeast Asian Games despite the advise of the Commission on Audit not to advance the cash gifts.

PSC chair Richie Garcia yesterday said they will ask the opinion of Malacañang because they would like to hand the rewards to the athletes on Monday when all the athletes would be back in Manila.

Gold medalists get P100,000, silver P50,000 and bronze P10,000 based on the PSC incentive act. So far, he said the PSC has computed it to reach P6.15 million including incentives for coaches.

Garcia said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, which funds the incentives act, will meet in January to release the money which by then would be too late for the Holiday season.

“First thing to do is to start giving incentives to all medalist if we are given the clearance to advance the amount to them,” said Garcia. “We want them to have merry Christmas by giving them the incentives.” Marc Anthony Reyes