Palace: National athletes not getting enough allowance

Malacañang admitted on Tuesday that national team athletes are not getting enough amount of financial support.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the admission a day after Hidilyn Diaz won the country's first Olympic gold medal in the weightlifting 55 kilogram division in Tokyo, Japan.

"Kulang po talaga, parang minimum wage nga lang po ang allowance ng ating mga atleta. Titignan natin kung paano mababago ito," Roque said.

(It is really not enough, it is as if it is on the level of minimum wage for our athletes and we will look for ways how can we change this.)

"Titignan natin paano maitataas ang nakukuha nilang allowance at iba pang benepisyo as members of national team. Kung napakaliit at kulang ay nanalo pa rin, mas marami ng mananalo ng ginto kung maibibigay natin ang sapat na benepisyo," he added.

(We will look into increasing the allowance of our national team athletes. They were able to win despite limited funding. We will have more gold medalists if we will be able to provide them enough support.)

Back in June 2019, Diaz sought financial assistance from the private sector for her Olympic gold medal bid, saying the expenses are taking a toll on her. 

Back then, Diaz said that to ask for financial help outside of the government may be embarrassing, but added that it is something she needs to do in pursuit of Olympic gold medal.

Meanwhile, Roque assured the public that Diaz will get everything she deserves for her unprecedented feat and stands to even get more than the P33 million reward she secured by winning the nation's first Olympic gold medal since joining the Olympiad in 1924.

"Kung anuman ang kakulangan sa training, I am sure mababawi sa generosity ng pamahalaan at ng private sector because she truly deserves it and made us proud," Roque said.

"Ang tagumpay ni Hidilyn ay tagumpay ng lahat ng Pilipino," he added. — RSJ, GMA News