PH para swim star Ernie Gawilan to get over P4 million bonus

MANILA, Philippines – Para swimming star Ernie Gawilan, who emerged as the most bemedalled Filipino in the 2018 Asian Para Games, will receive a cash incentive worth over P4 million after a historic campaign in the quadrennial meet. 

Gawilan and 17 other medalists are set to be the first recipients of cash incentives by virtue of R.A. 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” at the Malacañang Palace this November. (READ: Zero to hero: PH achieves historic 10-gold haul in Asian Para Games)

After bagging the country’s first ever gold medal in the Games, Gawilan sustained his stellar showing to capture a total of 3 gold medals and 2 silvers.

Even more impressive, Gawilan set a new Asian Para Games swimming record in the men’s 400m freestyle finals twice (4:56 and 4:51). (READ: A rough life hasn’t discouraged paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan)

“More than the amount of incentives, it is the deeper inclusion of our para athletes in the Philippine sports landscape that we are all thankful for. They are now recognized as a true national athlete and are afforded proper training and exposure,”  said Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo.

In Section 8 of the said law sponsored by Senator Sonny Angara, gold medalists will receive P1 million, while the silve and bronze winners will receive P500,000 and P200,00, respectively.

Also mandated in the Republic Act is a special incentive for setting or breaking a record.

Team Philippines finished 11th overall out of 43 countries with a 10 gold-8 silver-11 bronze collection to surpass its medal haul of 5 silver and 5 bronze medals in the 2014 Incheon edition. – Rappler.com