Paralympian Josephine Medina to get P1M under new law

MANILA, Philippines – Table tennis Paralympian Josephine Medina, who won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, is entitled to a P1-million ($21,000) cash incentive under the new athletes incentives law,  Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said on Wednesday, September 14.

Angara, author of the new athletes incentives law or Republic Act 10699, has also filed a resolution commending Medina for her feat at the Rio Paralympics which ended the Philippines’ 16-year medal drought.

“This is truly one of the noblest intentions of the law – to include our winning athletes with disabilities in the grant of cash awards from the government. The term ‘national athletes’ should encompass all athletes including those who are differently-abled as they undoubtedly deserve bigger incentives and benefits,” he said.

Under RA 10699, a Paralympics gold medalist gets P5 million; silver medalist, P2.5 million; and bronze medalist, P1 million. Their coaches stand to get cash incentives equivalent to half that amount.

Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won a historic silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics – the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in 20 years – and received P5 million in cash incentives, among others. – Rappler.com

US$1 = P47.62