President Duterte vows to increase budget for Tokyo Olympics-bound PH athletes

By Waylon Galvez

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics coming in seven months, President Rodrigo Duterte has asked more funding for the national team’s campaign in the hopes of finally winning that elusive gold medal.

Duterte’s comments came during the distribution of cash incentives to athletes who won medals during the 30th Southeast Asian Games in a ceremony held Wednesday night at Malacanang.

“I heard we are giving P100 million for the Olympics,” said Duterte in his speech attended by athletes and sports officials.

“Puwede tayo magdagdag?” added the country’s Chief Executive as he looked at Andrea Domingo, chairman chief executive officer of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

So far, two Filipino athletes have earned slots in the Tokyo Olympics — gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena. But the scant figure is expected to increase as a number of athletes will see action in different Olympic Qualifying Tournaments starting January.

Rio Olympics silver medalists and Asian Games gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe lead the Filipino bets eyeing Olympic spots.

Duterte also mentioned the possibility of increasing the monthly allowances of national athletes following what he calls a “success story” in the SEA Games where the Philippines won the overall title for the first time in 14 years.

The President said that he will make arrangements with Congress for a significant increase in the monthly allowances, which is about P45,000 for ‘elite’ members of the national team.

“I’ll try to talk things over with Congress. Sana ‘yung allowance ninyo, dapat ‘yung pagkain, libre na. ‘Yung allowance ninyo, allowance na nyo ‘yan… Mga P250,000 a month, okay na siguro ‘yan,” said Duterte as athletes at the ceremony cheered and applauded the pronouncement.

“Holdapin ko pa ‘yung sarili nating bangko,” added Duterte in jest.

In the SEA Games, the national team won 149 gold medals, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals. He congratulated each and every athlete, to whom he also confered the ‘Order of Lapu-Lapu’ award.

Checks were given to athletes during the courtesy call at The Palace as gold medalists received P300,000, P150,000 for the silver and P60,000 for bronze medalists under the Athletes Incentive Act.

“Yung isang paa ko, laylay na. Kaka-semplang ko lang sa motor,” said Duterte, drawing laughs from his guests. “Pero sa harap ng mga athletes, walang sakit-sakit. Pero kanina, mahihimatay na ako.”

“I’m deeply honored to be in the presence of our athletes who have emerged victorious in the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games held in our country. Your triumph showcases the patriotism and sporting prowess of our people to our neighbors in Southeast Asia.”

Duterte also congratulated the people behind the country’s successful hosting of Games, from the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee led by its chairman and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Philippine Sports Commission William Ramirez – also the Chef de Mission – and Rep. Bambol Tolentino, president of the Philippines Olympic Committee.

“I’d like to greet everybody. Thank you to everybody connected in the success story of the SEA Games. It was really a windfall,” he said.

Source: Manila Bulletin