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Olympian Hidilyn Diaz to get PhP5M cash, house and lot

MANILA: For making the Philippines win a silver medal in the Olympics after a gap of 20 years, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will receive a PhP5 million incentive under the National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act.

Diaz will also get a new house and lot as pledged by a realtor and developer, Inquirer quoted the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Malacañang reportedly joined the nation in hailing the country’s newest sport darling and the end of a 20-year Olympic medal drought, saying the victory represented the Filipinos’ own journey.

“The inspiring story of Diaz is the story of Filipinos,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar reportedly said. “Hers is about overcoming shyness but for an inspired nation, her road to Rio is a journey of grit, patience and determination.”

President Duterte’s spokesperson, Ernesto Abella, was quoted as saying that Diaz’s feat also represented change in the country. “Truly, change has come,” Abella reportedly said.

Senators also heaped praises on Diaz as a symbol of the Filipino’s strength.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, vice chair of the Senate committee on sports, said Diaz would be the first Olympic medalist to receive the hiked cash incentive for athletes approved through Republic Act No. 10699, the National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act, which he authored.

“Under the new law, she will be receiving PhP5 million in cash incentive tax-free. Had she won in 2012, she would only receive PhP2.5 million,” Angara reportedly said.

Coaches who personally trained Filipino athletes at least six months before the Games also get a bonus, equivalent to 50 percent of the cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze medalists. If there is more than one coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among themselves, reported Inquirer.

PSC Chair Butch Ramirez reportedly said the house-and-lot pledge to all Filipino medalists in the Rio Games was made by realtor and developer Deca Homes. He did not say where the property would be and how much it was worth.

“It’s a fulfillment of her dreams because I heard she wanted to build her home with the money she will receive,” Ramirez was quoted as saying.

A hero’s welcome for Diaz had been planned on Thursday but it would not push through as she was slated to come with the rest of the Philippine delegation on a later date, said the news portal.

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