PH dragon boat team seeks incentive after gold medal haul

FILE – In this Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 photo, a dragon boat crew from the Philippines paddles for the finish line during a 500-meter heat at the ICF Dragon Boat Championships,in Gainesville, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Members of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation on Monday sought for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to grant them an incentive following their five gold medal haul in last month’s 2018 International Canoe Federation World Championship  in the United States.

The Philippine team, which also won 2 more silver medals in the same world championship held in Lake Lanier in Georgia, went in Malacanang on Monday and was presented to the media. 

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters the Philippine team went to see him to ask help, particularly in getting an incentive from the PSC.

“So we are appealing to the PSC, that they won the  world championship, hopefully they will be granted an incentive the same way athletes who won in the (recent) Asian games,” Roque said.

He said he will bring this up to President Duterte so that he would also grant incentives to them the same way he gave winners in the Asian Games.

Hermie Macaranas, a member of the Philippine team, said they did not expect to win since their opponents were all bigger than them.

“It’s a great honor that we won. We were able to raise the Philippine flage in Georgia,” Macaranas added.