P28M bonus for Tio, para medalists

Para swimmer Ernie Gawilan and kiteboarder Christian Tio will become multimillionaires when they visit Malacañang on Tuesday.

Gawilan, who brought home three gold medals and two silvers from the recent Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, stands to receive a cash incentive of P4 million.

The 17-year-old Tio, on the other hand, will fatten his bank account by P2.5 million after claiming a silver medal in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last month.

The government, through the Philippine Sports Commission, will hand out a total of P28,050,000 to Gawilan, Tio and the rest of the differently abled athletes who captured medals in Jakarta.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and PSC, led by Chair Butch Ramirez, will honor the sports heroes.

“The instructions of the President (Duterte) is inclusivity in sports,” said Ramirez. “This is one good proof that we have started the journey along that road.”

Other Para Games medalists who will receive cash bonuses: Kim Ian Chi (bowling), Arthus Bucay (cycling), Fide Master Xander Severino (chess), Josephine Medina (table tennis).