House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera filed a proposed resolution to commend and congratulate the Philippine contingent to the 19th Asian Games, especially the gold medal winners and Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers.
The Philippine contingent to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China comprised 395 athletes, personnel, and officials led by Chief of Mission Chito Loyzaga and sent by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the National Sports Associations.
First among the gold medal winners Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Representative Herrera lauded were the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team. Herrera mentioned each of the Gilas players and coaches by name in her resolution.
The veteran legislator noted the Asian Games basketball gold medal is “the country’s first in 61 years, having last won the Asian Games basketball gold in 1962, and the fifth basketball gold since the first one in 1951.”
The seasoned lady lawmaker also commended in her proposed House resolution the three individual athletes who won gold, two individual athletes who claimed silver, and nine individual athletes who earned bronze medals at the 19thAsian Games.
She commended the three athletes who successfully qualified for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics after earning gold and silver medals at the 19th Asian Games: Ernest John Obiena; Margarita Ochoa; and Eumir Marcial.
“Olympian Ernest John Obiena, currently ranked World No. 2, raised the new Asian Games record in men’s pole vault to 5.90 meters after having secured the gold medal.”
Herrera noted in particular Olympian Ernest John Obiena, currently ranked World No. 2, for raising the new Asian Games record in men’s pole vault to 5.90 meters after having secured the gold medal, as well as the athletes who set new personal best and new national records in their respective Asian Games events.
She also congratulated the teams that won bronze medals: the tennis mixed doubles tandem of Alexandra Eala, Francis Casey Alcantara; the sepak takraw men’s quadrant team of Rheyjey Ortouste, Jason Huerte, Vince Torno, Mark Joseph Gonzales, Ronsited Gabayeron, and Jom Lerry Rafael; and the sepak takraw men’s regu team Rheyjey Ortouste, Jason Huerte, Mark Joseph Gonzales, Ronsited Gabayeron, and Jom Lerry Rafael.
Herrera further noted that the Asian Games medalists and their coaches qualified for benefits and the cash incentives set forth in Republic Act 10699 also known as the National Coaches and Athletes Benefits and Incentives Act. The incentives are:
· Cash Incentives for Individual Medalists:
◦ Gold Medalists: Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00)
◦ Silver Medalists: One million pesos (P1,000,000.00)
◦ Bronze Medalists: Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00);
· Cash Incentives for Team Medalists:
◦ For competitions with five (5) or more participants per team, each team member shall receive twenty-five percent (25%) of the cash incentives for individual medal winners
◦ For competitions with less than five (5) participants per team, the team shall receive the same cash incentives for individual medal winners as herein provided, to be divided equally among the team members;
· Cash Incentives for Coaches:
◦ The incentives for the coaches shall be equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze medalists. In case of more than one (1) coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among themselves;
· Cash Incentives for Athletes who Set New National Records and Ranking:
◦ Asian Games athletes and their coaches, who surpass the Philippine record or Philippine ranking in Asian Games or resulting from the Asian Games, shall each be given cash incentives, the amount of which may be determined by the PSC.
“Asian Games athletes and their coaches, who surpass the Philippine record or Philippine ranking in Asian Games or resulting from the Asian Games, shall each be given cash incentives.”
In her proposed resolution, Herrera suggested to her colleagues in the House that the
gold medalists and the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers be given a Plaque of Distinction by the chamber, while for the silver and bronze medalists, Certificate of Commendation, and for the new record holders, each be given a Certificate of Recognition.
In the same proposed resolution, she also wants the House to urge the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the National Sports Association, Commission on Higher Education, and Palarong Pambansa Board to collaborate on the formulation of a long-term national sports development program to sustain, accelerate, and upgrade the national sports development programs.
Herrera also prodded the House to enjoin the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, Fiscal Incentives Review Board, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and other concerned agencies on the formulation of a series of medium-term public investment programs to ensure adequate funding of sports investment priorities.
