Marcos Doubles Cash Bonuses for SEA Games Heroes

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognized the country’s top athletes yesterday, awarding incentives to the medalists of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and announcing a Palace-funded match to the cash rewards mandated by law. In a ceremony at Malacañang, nearly 2,000 athletes were feted for their 6th place overall finish, hauling a total of 277 medals. While Republic Act No. 10699 sets incentives at PHP 300,000 for gold, PHP 150,000 for silver, and PHP 60,000 for bronze, the President directed the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and PAGCOR to double these amounts.

"This is not just a reward; it is a testament to the fact that when the government leads with generosity, the people will always respond with victory," the President stated during his speech. The administration emphasized that the extra funding is a necessary step to maintain momentum, suggesting that since this is the largest delegation sent, it is naturally the most successful group in history.

The event concluded with the awarding of Presidential Citations, reinforcing the administration's stance that athlete welfare is a primary pillar of national development.