SEA games athletes get cash incentives

THE Zamboanga City Government released P1.4 million cash incentives to local athletes who harvested medals during the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Indonesia from November 11 to 22, 2011.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, who released Friday the cash incentives, said the giving of incentives to Zamboangueño athletes who excelled in local, national and international sports competitions is mandated by a city ordinance aimed to encourage the youth to engage in sports and bring honor to this city.

Under the ordinance for international sporting events, a gold medal is equivalent to a cash incentive of P150,000, silver is P100,000 and bronze P75,000, of which 30 percent will go the coach.

For group events, the incentive will be divided among the number of participating players.

Lobregat said a total of 18 Zamboangueño athletes who harvested medals during the 26th Sea Games in Indonesia received cash incentives.

Iris Rañola, who bagged two gold medals in 8 and 9-ball billiard competitions, received a cash incentive of P300,000, the highest among the recipients of the incentives.

Ruben Angeles, Ernesto Binarao and Jonash Ponce went home with P37,500 cash as they divided among themselves the P150,000 for gold medal they won in baseball.

Ryan Roose Garcia went home with P150,000 for gold medal in basketball.

Other recipients of the incentives were Florante Acuña, Joel Binarao, Orlando Binarao, Roget Rojas and Roberto Iturralde, who shared among themselves the P150,000 for gold medal in softball, giving them P30,000 each, while Margarito Angana, Jr. received P150,000 for gold in wrestling.

Jul Omar Abdulhakim, Hidilyn Diaz and Robertson Torres received P100,000 each as they bagged the silver medals in Pencat Silat, weightlifting, and wrestling, respectively.

Dennis Lyod Catipon, Rolando Claro and Jimmy Angana received P75,000 each for being the bronze medalists in judo, Tenung Derajat, and wrestling, respectively. (Bong Garcia)