NOT wanting to be left behind in the Olympic incentive bandwagon, San Miguel boss Ramon Ang will also award additional cash bonuses for the country’s medalists in the Tokyo Olympic Games, Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced yesterday.
“I am officially announcing that San Miguel’s Ramon Ang is also giving P10 million for the Olympic gold medalist, P5 million for the silver medalist and P2 million for the bronze medalist,” Tolentino said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
He also thanked the MVP Sports Foundation of business tycoon and sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan for making an earlier pledge of the same corresponding amounts for the country’s medal performers in the Tokyo Olympics.
Together with the bonuses that the government will award under Republic Act 10699, the incentives law, Tolentino said the “Olympic gold medalists will now get a total of P30 million, silver medalists P15 million and bronze medalists P6 million.
“Kapag ang mga atleta ay makapagbigay ng karangalan, may incentive silang makakamit.
Mabuti ito para ma-inspire naman ang mga atleta natin sa Olympics,” Tolentino said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
He said the windfall could go as high as P50 million, adding he expects more supporters to pitch in once the Games get going.
The Tagaytay congressman reiterated his own pledge that the Tagaytay City government would also award a house and lot to any athlete who wins a gold medal.
“So if all 19 athletes win gold medals, then they will each get a house and lot in Tagaytay,” he said.
“Marami pa ‘yang mag-co-commit. Baka umaabot pa ‘yan ng P50 million, equivalent of $1 million, which is comparable to other countries,” Tolentino said. “I for one know that Indonesia committed a minimum of $500,000 (P25 million) to their Olympic gold medalists.”
Tolentino also said the POC has requested the PSC to continue supporting the training of national athletes who will compete in next year’s international competitions.
