A CITY sports official assured Baguio City athletes who competed in the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will get cash incentives from the City Government.
Gaudencio Gonzales, city sports coordinator, said the Summer Capital is readying the cash incentives of local athletes who produced 16 golds, nine silver, and 10 bronze medals during the biennial met were the country regained the over-all title after snatching a record 149 golds, 117 silvers and 121 bronzes in 530 events of the 56 sports played throughout the 10-day competitions of the 11-nation biennial multi-sports meet.
Expected to get P80,000 for her two golds and one silver medal output is dancesport athlete Stephanie Sabalo while the 15 others are set to receive P30,000 each under the revised ordinance known as the “Baguio-based athletes and coaches incentives and benefits ordinance of 2016.”
Gold medalists who will receive 30,000 each are Elmer Manlapas (Arnis), Abegail Abad (Arnis), Divine Wally (Wushu), Estie Gay Liwanen (Kurash), Jearome Calica (Muay/Waikru), Sandi Menchi Abahan (OCR), Jeordan Dominguez (Taekwondo), Ariel Lampacan (Muay), Jerry Olsim (Kickboxing), Gina Iniong (Kickboxing), Jean Claude Saclag (Kickboxing), Nesthy Alcayde Petecio (Boxing), Josie Gabuco (Boxing) and Carlo Paalam (Boxing).
The nine silver medalists meanwhile brings home from the city P20,000.
They are Billy Joel Vallenzuela (Arnis), Gideon Padua (Washu – Sanda), Jones Inso (Wushu – Taijiquan), Jenelyn Olsim (Muay), Islay Erika Bomogao (Muay), Jomar Balangui (Kickboxing), Minalyn Foy-os (Wrestling), and Irish Magno (Boxing).
Bronze medalists in the SEA Games who will get P10,000 each are Ezarai Yalong (Arnis), Helen Dawa (Kurash), Daniel Parantac (Wushu – Taijiquan), Jones Inso (Wushu – Men’s Duel), Thorton Sayan (Wushu - Men's Duel), Jedd Andre Kim (Sambo), Helen Aclopen (Sambo), Marianne Mariano (Sambo), Karol Maguide (Muay), and Aira Cordero Villegas (Boxing).
Aside from the city’s incentives, the local athletes will also receive cash from the national government based on a national law.
Republic Act 10699 rewards cash incentives for winners of the SEA Games, who will receive P300,000, P150,000 and P60,000 respectively for gold, silver and bronze finishes.
President Rodrigo Duterte is also expected to give additional incentives of P250,000 for gold, P150,000 for silver and P100,000 for bronze medalists.
The Philippine Olympic Committee pledged another P300,000 for gold medalists only.
Gonzales meanwhile said the city is preparing a hero’s welcome and at the same time preparing commendation to Baguio based athletes who helped in the country’s drive in winning the SEA Games overall title anew.