Coaches get P9.5-M incentives

MANILA—The Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation yesterday handed out checks totaling P9.5 million to 20 coaches of bemedalled national athletes.

Pagcor president and chief operating officer Jorge Sarmiento personally distributed the incentives along with Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Richie Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. at the PSC canteen.

“We won’t be having these great athletes without them,” said Garcia.

Under the Incentives Law approved in 2002, coaches also receive incentives based on the gold, silver and bronze performances of their respective athletes.

The late bowling coach Alfonso dela Rosa, who steered former World Cup champion Julieta dela Rosa, the PH women’s team and PH men’s team in the 1978 Asian Games, 1979 9th World FIQ and 1983 10th World FIQ, was the topnotcher among the 20 recipients with a total of P1,883,333.32.

New Philippine Bowling Congress president Ernesto “Toti” Lopa, also a former coach, received P1,645,833 for mentoring Bong Coo and Arianne Cerdena in the 1979 9th World FIQ and 1988 Olympic Games.

Sen. Tito Sotto got P1.5 million as coach of Coo, Lolita Reformado and Oliver Ongtawco in the 1978 Asiad, 1979 FIQ and 1985 World Games.

The late Francisco “Tatang” de Vega, father and coach of sprint legend Lydia de Vega, received P437,500, while George Posadas got P50,000 for mentoring wife Elma Muros Posadas in the 1990 and 1994 Asiad.