Windfall for 30 AIMAG medal winners this month
The 30 medalists in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), led by Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez of jiu-jitsu, are set to receive their respective cash incentives from the government this month.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said yesterday that they are preparing the necessary documents that will be submitted this week to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“We’re starting to process everything that is needed,” said Ramirez in a press briefing yesterday at the PSC Athletes’ Hall at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Vito Cruz, Manila.
Ramirez said that the possible date for cash distribution is either Oct. 16 or 17.
Ochoa, a three-time world champion in the International Brazilian JiuJitsu Federation (IBJJF), won in the -45kg weight category while Ramirez ruled the -55kg in the last AIMAG in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Under RA 10699 – or the amended Sports Incentives Act – Ochoa and Ramirez are slated to receive R2 million each from the government.
Aside from the two, the other medalists in the AIMAG include 14 silver medal winners and 14 bronze medal achievers. The silver medalists will get R1 million, while the bronze winners will collect R400,000.
Some of the silver medal winners in the AIMAG include Rio Olympics veteran Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, trackstar Eric Cray, cue artists Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit, bowler Kenneth Chua and the dancesport tandem of German Enriquez and Danella Publico will earn P1 million each from the government.
As for the bronze medal winners, the list has taekwondo jins Kirstie Elaine Alora, weightlifter Kristel Macrohon, pool artist Carlo Biado, WGM Janelle Frayna and the dancesport pair of Gerald Jamili and Cherry Parcon.