Filipino Olympians receive cash incentives, awards from Duterte, gov’t

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz receives award from President Duterte. Screenshots from PTV

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino athletes who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won medals received their rewards and incentives on Monday from the government and President Rodrigo Duterte.

Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial met the President in the Malacañang and personally delivered the cash incentives set aside for them.

Mansueto Onyok Velasco, who won silver in boxing at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, was one of those who received awards.

“I congratulate you once again for bringing pride and honor to the country and for uplifting the spirit of Filipinos amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Your hard work, dedication and sportsmanship even amidst the challenges in your training and competitions prior to the Olympics are truly inspiring,” he said in his speech.

“I am confident that you will get better and stronger in securing more victories in the future. Your success will continue to motivate many aspiring athletes and our Filipino youth to channel their energies into sports and other productive activities keeping them away from the harmful vices,” he added.

Olympic boxing broze medalist Eumir Marcial/Screenshots from PTV

Aside from the cash incentives given to athletes under the law, as well as those from the Office of the President, the medalists also received the following awards:

-the Presidential medial of merit to Diaz

-the Order of Lapu Lapu, rank of Kamagi to Petecio, Paalam, Marcial, and Velasco

-Presidential citation for the other olympians of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)

During the awarding ceremony, Duterte called on the POC and PSC and other sports bodies to “continue providing much needed assistance to keep our athletes on top of their game and help them become all time greats.”

The President also congratulated Japan, particularly Ambassador Kazuhiko, for the hosting of the 2020 Olympics.

“The strength and excellence of our athletes in the international sports arena demonstrate the Filipino spirit and resilience and determination to succeed. Our Tokyo 2020 medalists and Olympians truly embody our greatness as a people and as a nation,” he said.

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