TWELVE former national athletes led by 2006 Asian Games gold medalists Antonio Gabica, Joan Tipon, and Violito Payla were the first recipients of retirement cash benefits from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for this year.
Gabica, who won the gold in Doha in billiards received P427,500 from the PSC as retirement benefit as provided for under Republic Act 9064 or the Sports Incentives Act. Released for the batch was P1.8 million.
Tipon and Payla, meantime, took home incentives totaling P287,500 and P252,500 respectively after the two boxers won the gold in Doha nine years ago.
The incentives were given during the PSC’s 25th anniversary celebration recently.
Under RA 9064, former national athletes are entitled to 25 percent of the total incentives they received from the PSC during their playing careers.
Harry Tanamor, a 2008 Olympian, took home P187,500. Antonio Lining of billiards got P150,000, while Roel Ramirez of gymnastics and John Baylon of judo got P106,834 and P100,000 respectively.
Also receiving retirement benefits were Roy Vence of athletics, Mitchel Martinez, Larry Semillano, Juanito Magliquian, Joegin Ladon, Genebert Basadre, Godfrey Castro, and Bill Vicera of boxing, Manel Ycasas of taekwondo, and Mary Jane Estimar of wushu.
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