Sotto wants to give Hidilyn Diaz cash reward, urges Pacquiao to chip in

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is mulling to give Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz an additional cash incentive which she can use for her gym business.

Sotto said he would also prod world boxing champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao to chip in.

“Dito sa Senado, siguradong kakantyawan natin si Manny Pacquiao. Kombinasyon, sasamahan ko, kami ni Manny syempre. Bibigyan namin siya ng additional prize. Tignan natin baka palakihin natin ang gym ny’a. Nagtayo siya ng gym dun sa dati niyang premyong nakuha e nakita n’yo naman ang resulta,” he said.

Diaz won the gold medal Tuesday in the women’s 53-kg weightlifting competition.

She stands to receive a cash windfall of P6 million — P2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee, P2 million from the government through Republic Act 10699, which expands the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches, and P1 million each from the Siklab Foundation and the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hoong.

The Senate leader expressed hope the victory of Diaz would serve as a lesson for sports officials to help in driving more funds for Filipino athletes.

“Sana maging leksyon sa atin ito na ‘yung mga sport na pwede tayo mag-excel ‘yun ang palakasin natin. Kesa ‘yung mga sport na kailangan ng 7-footer, medyo bigyan natin ng priority ang mga sport na may pagasa tayo,” he said.

Sotto said he wanted to put soccer into the spotlight.

“Isa sa inaasahan kong mapalakas natin ay ‘yung soccer, dapat talaga pinalalakas natin iyan sa mga eskwelahan, iyan ang dapat maging popular dahil dyan may laban tayo internationally,” he said.

He said he will ask Diaz to pay a visit to the Senate when she returns to the country. — MDM, GMA News