PSC assures early release of Asiad medalists' cash incentives

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Ricardo Garcia assured all medalists in the ongoing 16th Asian Games of a merry celebration of the holiday season with the cash rewards expected to be released by early December. Under Republic Act 9064 or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Law, a gold medal is worth P1 million while every silver won means P500,000. A bronze is worth P100,000. As of this posting, Biboy Rivera and cue-artist Dennis Orcollo have given the country its first two gold medals, while billiards player Warren Kiamco and golfer Miguel Tabuena came up with two silvers. Bowler Frederick Ong, sanshou artist Mark Eddiva, the dancesports pair Ronnie Vergara and Charlea Lagaras, and taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go, Kirstie Elaine Alora, John Paul Lizardo and Paul Romero have accounted for bronze medals. "The money for the incentives will come from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and I don’t see any problem regarding its early release," said Garcia. The 188-strong Philippine delegation is hoping to match, if not surpass, the four-gold, six-silver and nine-bronze medal haul in the 2006 Doha Asian Games in Qatar. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV