POC to give out P12.4M in bonuses to Cambodia SEA Games medalists

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is set to hand out P12.4 million in bonuses to athletes who copped medals at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last month. 
 
These bonuses will be distributed to the 58 gold medalists, 85 silver winners, and 117 athletes who took home bronze medals. Of the total bonus, P7.2 million is from the Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF), while P5.2 million is from POC funds. 
 
“The athletes, particularly the medalists, deserve the reward, and the POC will always be diligent on that,” said POC president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino in a statement.
 
“The amount is from the generosity of MVPSF, Manny V. Pangilinan, through the efforts of [president] Al Panlilio."
 
Under the POC’s incentive program, P100,000 will go to an individual gold medalist, P50,000 to doubles and relay teams, and P30,000 to a team; P50,000 to a silver medalist, P30,000 for doubles, and P20,000 for relay; and P30,000 to an individual silver medalist and P10,000 for doubles and relay.
 
The POC bonuses are separate from the government incentives given through the Philippine Sports Commission under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
 
For individual events, a gold in the SEA Games is worth P300,000, a silver P150,000, and a bronze P60,000, according to the law.
 
Gymnastics ace Carlos Yulo is set to receive the most bonuses after ruling the men's all-around and parallel bars while also securing silver medals in rings and the men's team all-around.

The Philippines came in fifth overall in the 11-nation multi-sport event that takes place every two years. — VBL, GMA Integrated News