SEA Games medalists to get P10.3M in incentives

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will play Santa Claus on Saturday (December 22) in Malacañang for the Filipino medalists in the recent 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand. Philipine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez said that the President herself will distribute the incentives to the athletes starting at 1 p.m. "The President said that the athletes are modern heroes, and for this reason, it is fitting that those who won medals in the recent SEA Games be honored," Ramirez said in an interview on Thursday. The Philippines finished sixth with 41 gold, 91 silver, and 96 bronze medals – its worst showing in the biennial tounament since it joined in 1977. Based on the Incentives Act, the gold medalists will receive P100,000, silver medalists P50,000 and bronze medalists P10,000. There are 228 players who earned medals in Thailand, which translates to about P10.3 million in incentives, the funding of which will come from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Ramirez added that incentives for coaches are not included in the amount as they are still awaiting endorsements from their respective national sports associations. - GMANews.TV