The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) will give at least P1 million incentives to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics, its president said Tuesday.
Interviewed on Dobol B TV, LPP president Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said each governor will personally contribute at least P10,000 for the reward.
“Yung mga governors po ay magko-contribute para po sa P1 million sa ating napakagaling na atleta, si Hidilyn Diaz,” Velasco said.
(The governors will contribute for the P1 million for our excellent athlete Hidilyn Diaz.)
Velasco thanked Diaz for giving honor to the country in the Olympics, saying her win is heartwarming.
Aside from this, at least P33 million cash reward will also be given to Diaz after her historic win.
According to Republic Act 10699, Olympic gold medalists will receive P10 million for those who competed in individual events.
The MVP Sports Foundation also pledged to give an additional P10 million for the gold medal winner.
Philippine Olympic Committee and Representative Abraham Tolentino also said in a Philippine Sportswriters Association forum that business tycoon Ramon S. Ang will give P10 million for every gold medal won in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Athlete and Representative Mikee Romero also pledged P3 million for the gold medal winners in Tokyo.
Diaz delivered the country’s first-ever gold medal in the Olympics after winning the women’s 55-kg weightlifting event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Monday at the Tokyo International Forum.
In Tokyo, Diaz finished with a total score 224 kg, lifting 97 in the snatch and 127 in the clean and jerk to outduel China’s Liao Qiuyun for the gold.
Her win ended a near century-long Olympic gold medal drought since the Philippines first competed in the games in 1924. The country has since won three silvers and seven bronze medals.
This story was first published on GMA News Online