Duterte offers more cash bonuses to SEA Games medalists

Philippine delegates cheer during the opening ceremony of the 30th South East Asian Games at the Philippine Arena, Bulacan province, northern Philippines on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Gymnastics world champion Carlos Edriel Yulo will be collecting more than the cash bonanza he is assured of earning as the Filipino athlete with the most medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Besides the financial package from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee that medal winners will get, President Rodrigo Duterte will add P250,000 more for a golden finish, P150,000 for a silver performance and P100,000 for a bronze.

It will be on top of the basic P300,000 incentive as provided for by law and the P300,000 commitment by POC president Abraham “Bambol’’ Tolentino, a reliable source told the Inquirer.

https://sports.inquirer.net/373278/double-cash-rewards-for-sea-games-gold-medalists

Yulo ruled the all-around final and floor exercise events in men’s artistic gymnastics while claiming the silver medal in the horinzontal bars, parallel bars, pommel horse, still rings and vault.

All Filipino medalists in these Games have been invited by President Duterte on Dec. 18 at Malacanang where the cash incentives will be given away.

The POC, for its part, will disburse the funds at a Christmas party the local Olympic body has scheduled on Dec. 17.

Under Republic Act 10699 known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, a silver medal in the SEA Games is worth P150,000 while bronze performers stand to earn P60,000.

https://sports.inquirer.net/373302/poc-ready-to-spend-millions-for-seag-gold-medalists

The dancesport tandem of Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla pocketed three gold medals as well as the duo of Pearl Marie Caneda and Wilbert Aunzo, but both pairs will have to divide the bonuses equally between themselves.

Trackster Christina Knott topped the women’s 200m dash in record-breaking fashion and was part of the gold-winning 4x100m mixed relay apart from silver endings in the 100m and 4x100m women’s relay.