Duterte gives Olympians additional allowance

According to [Philippine News Agency PNA], President Rodrigo Duterte has given the Philippine athletes joining the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics an additional PHP100,000 each in allowances while at the Japanese capital.

The additional support was approved upon the recommendation of Senate Committee on Sports chairman Bong Go and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Before that, the PSC had given the athletes an allowance of USD1,000 (about PHP50,000) each.

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Duterte vows to triple allowance for Filipino Olympians. (Photo / Retrieved from Rappler)

"Our athletes deserve this additional show of support," PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said Friday, just as the Philippine team's campaign began with rower Cris Nievarez's quarterfinal qualification in the men's single sculls event.

The additional allowance would benefit Nievarez; boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Eumir Marcial, and Irish Magno; golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Juvic Pagunsan; swimmers Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie; weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando; judoka Kiyomi Watanabe; shooter Jayson Valdez; taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; sprinter Kristina Knott; skateboarder Margielyn Didal; and gymnast Caloy Yulo.

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According to [Philippine News Agency PNA], the additional cash incentive also favors para powerlifter Achele Guion, para swimmers Gary Bejino and Ernie Gawilan, para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, wheelchair athlete Jerrold Mangliwan, and discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda.