THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) handed out P50,000 to each members of team sports that won a gold medal in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
The incentives were given to the athletes on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
Among the recipients of the additional financial windfall include the Gilas Pilipinas cadets, the Philippine Blu Boys and Blu Girls, and the Philippine Volcanoes rugby team.
Silver medalists in team sports were also given an additional rate of P25,000 each, while bronze medalists got P12,000 each.
The PSC handed the cash incentives despite giving more than what is required by law.
Under Republic Act 9064 or the National Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001, a SEA Games individual gold medalist is entitled to receive P100,000.
In team sports, however, a team with five or more members will get double the amount or about P200,000 but will be divided equally among the members.
Under the same law, silver medalists will receive P50,000, while bronze medalists get P10,000. The amount also doubles when applied to team sports with five or more members.
In total, the PSC gave more than P9 million to all athletes who won medals in the SEA Games.
The PSC has been adamant about having revisions to Republic Act 9064, saying the rate is too small for the current times.
As an example, under the current computation, a 12-man basketball team that won a bronze medal in the SEA Games will only get P1,667 each.