Reward from Pacquiao's own pocket awaits Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz 

On top of the P5-million incentive from the government, Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz can also expect to get a separate reward from boxing champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Asked by reporters if he plans to give a separate monetary reward to Diaz, Pacquiao said: "Iniisip ko na iyan."

The neophyte senator, however, refused to reveal how much he would be giving as it would be coming from his own pocket.

"Huwag na natin i-announce kasi hindi na natin siguro ia-anounce dahil hindi naman government money iyan," Pacquiao said.

 The P5-million government incentive that Diaz would be receiving is double than the P2.5 million in cash incentive provided for under the repealed RA 9064, enacted back in 2001.

Under the law signed in 2015 by former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, athletes who will win a gold medal for the Philippines at the Summer Olympics are entitled to P10 million and an Olympic Gold Medal of Valor.

Silver medalists like Diaz would receive a P5-million incentive while bronze medalists will get P2 million each.

National athletes and coaches are also granted a 20-percent discount on transportation, restaurants, hotels and other lodging establishments.

They also get a 20% discount on medicine and sports equipment for their exclusive use.

On Monday, five resolutions, including one from Pacquiao, were filed hailing Diaz's victory at the 53-kilogram class of the weightlifting event of the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Diaz's silver medal is the country's third since joining the Olympics in 1924.  The country has also won seven bronze Olympic medals since that time.

Apart from Pacquiao, the other senators who lauded Diaz in separate resolutions were Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. — VVP, GMA News