PH Olympic medalists get addt’l cash incentives from Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte congratulates the other Tokyo Olympic medalists during a virtual courtesy call Monday afternoon. Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino athletes who were able to take home prized medals from the Tokyo Olympics are set to receive additional cash incentives from President Rodrigo Duterte’s office.

In a courtesy call with Filipino athletes on Monday, Duterte said Olympic silver medalists for boxing Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio will receive P2 million each from his office.

Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medalist for boxing Eumir Marcial will receive P 1 million and boxer Irish Magno will get P200,000.

This is on top of the reward mandated by law where olympic silver medalists are set to take home P5 million while bronze medalists will get P2 million.

All of the medalists will likewise receive the Order of the Lapu-Lapu medal, which is given to Filipinos “who have excelled in something and brought honor to the country,” Duterte said.

All Filipino athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics will get P200,000 from the Office of the President, as well as Presidential Citations, Duterte added.

“It is not an everyday occurrence that we receive such an honor from our citizens of the Republic of the Philippines. You went to Tokyo to fight and I, well, say that you did your best and the Filipino people appreciate it, especially bringing honor to the country,” Duterte said.

Duterte earlier pledged to give Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz cash amounting to P3 million as well as a house and lot in a government housing project for soldiers in Zamboanga City.

EDV