Duterte adds P3M to Diaz’s haul

Speaker Velasco has initiated a move. He started with P200,000 and passing the hat to every House member to contribute to the additional incentive for Hidilyn

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday welcomed Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz with a surprise — an additional P3 million reward on top of the incentives set to be given to the country’s first Olympic gold medal winner.

Diaz, fresh from her successful stint in

the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, arrived in the country on Wednesday afternoon and was set up with a meeting with the President through a virtual courtesy call.

“The nation is ecstatic about your achievement. We cannot express even in the words how we should be shouting hallelujah,” Duterte said.

“I hope the years of toil, the years of disappointments, just forget them. You already have the gold. Gold is gold. And it would be good for you to let bygones be bygones and dwell solely on your victory and, of course, with the nation,” he added.

Aside from the cash incentive, Duterte also offered Diaz one fully furnished house and lot in Zamboanga City courtesy of the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, on the other hand, has filed a Senate resolution commending Diaz’s stellar performance that ended the country’s 97-year Olympic medal drought.

In his co-sponsorship speech, Go said that Diaz has proven time and again that she not only possesses the skill but the willpower and sheer determination as well, exemplifying the true spirit of Filipino competitiveness.

“She ruled the competition with a total score of 224kg to win in such an incredible and emphatic fashion that propelled her to the top. Indeed, this will be marked as one of the greatest sporting moments in Philippine history,” Go said.

The senator added that he is one with the nation in celebrating Diaz’s victory, stressing that she is an inspiration to all Filipinos to strive hard and face life’s challenges.

Diaz, who entered the Games with the rank of sergeant in the PAF, will be coming home as a staff sergeant.

Meantime, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has also started a “pass the hat drive” among fellow lawmakers to raise a target of another P10 million cash incentive to Diaz and other medalists in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Deputy Speaker and 1-PACMAN Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero disclosed the information on Wednesday during the virtual Ugnayan sa Batasan press conference.

“From the House, Speaker Velasco has initiated a move. He started with P200,000 and passing the hat to every House member to contribute to the additional incentive for

Hidilyn,” Romero said.

At least P4 million has been raised since Wednesday, he added.

The original plan was to hold a fundraising activity for Diaz but Velasco, himself, decided that the money that will be raised shall be pooled to all medalists, Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin also shared.

Garin, representative of the AAMBIS-OWA Partylist, clarified that “due to popular demand and upon the advice” of Velasco, the prize money will be “gifted to all Filipino athletes to bring home Olympic medals for the country, and not just for Hidilyn.”

Romero, a long-time sports patron, has granted Diaz an additional cash incentive worth P3 million as he lauded the weightlifter’s victory that ended the country’s 97 years of aspiration for the elusive Olympic gold medal.

He also renewed his call for the creation of the Department of Sports, which he believes would address the challenges of raising training funds for Filipino athletes.

“With the Department of Sports, this agency will have the mandate to put up as many infrastructures as possible. Our athletes need to train outside of the Philippines because we don’t have enough infrastructure and facilities,” he said.

Romero said he will speak with Velasco and fellow solons to ask for support on the measure’s approval.

In the same media forum, Deputy Speaker and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. threw his support to Romero’s proposal, saying that it is “high time” to prioritize sports in the Philippines.

“Once we have a Department of Sports, we can then compete internationally, as far as even promoting international sports in the Philippines,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) approved Diaz’s promotion to the next higher rank following her historic gold medal win in Tokyo.

Diaz, who entered the Games with the rank of sergeant in the PAF, will be coming home as a staff sergeant, Armed Forces chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said.

The promotion, approved by PAF commander Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes, took effect Tuesday, he said.

“We laud and support this move to mark SSgt. Diaz’ remarkable achievements in the field of sports and for bringing pride and glory to our country,” Sobejana shared.

“Congratulations, SSgt. Diaz. The AFP is proud of your accomplishments and may you continue to serve as an inspiration to your fellow service members,” he added.

On Monday, Diaz won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal by reigning supreme in the women’s 55kg category of weightlifting.

Diaz beat reigning World champion Liao Quiyun of China while setting a new Olympic record with her 127-kilogram lift in the clean and jerk. She won the gold with her total hoist of 224-kg.