DOUBLE-GOLD medal winner Anthony Beram will receive a P615,000 windfall as he leads medalists in last month’s Kuala Lumpur 29th Southeast Asian Games in receiving the financial incentives in ceremonies set on Wednesday in Malacanang.
The Filipino-American Beram won the men’s 200 and 400m run and joined Eric Cray, Anfernee Lopena and Archand Bagsit in clinching bronze in the 4×100 relay of athletics to emerge as the most bemedalled Filipino athlete in Malaysia.
Republic Act 9064, or the Athletes Incentives Act, provides financial rewards for athletes who win medals in the SEA Games, Asian Games, World Championships and Olympics.
For the SEA Games, an individual gold medal is worth P300,000, silver P150,000 and bronze P60,000.
The Philippines could only haul 24 gold medals in Kuala Lumpur for its worst finish in the biennial games, a performance that directed more flak to the direction of the Philippine Olympic Committee. The country’s coffers included 33 silvers and 64 bronzes, good enough for sixth place overall.
Host Malaysia frolicke with 145 golds, Thailand followed with 72, Singapore had 58, Vietnam 57 and Indonesia 3).
Cray ranked second in terms of incentives with P510,000 for his gold in the 400-meter hurdles, silver in the 100 and the relay bronze.
Kaitlin de Guzman also stands to smile her way to the bank for her one-gold, one-silver and one-bronze performance in gymnastics.
President Rodrigo Duterte was invited to personally hand the checks to the athletes along with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.