Medina set to get PHP 1M, commendation from Angara

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Josephine Medina will come home a millionaire.

The Rio Paralympics bronze medalist will receive PHP 1 million as part of the New Athletes Incentives Law.

“This is truly one of the noblest intentions of the law—to include our winning athletes with disabilities in the grant of cash awards from the government. The term ‘national athletes’ should encompass all athletes including those who are differently-abled as they undoubtedly deserve bigger incentives and benefits,” said Sen. Sonny Angara, who authored the said cash bonus law, in a statement on Wednesday.

Aside from the cash incentive, Medina, who ended the Philippines' 16-year drought in the Paralympics by edging German table tennis opponent Julianne Wolf for third place, will also receive a commendation from Angara through a resolution he filed also on Wednesday.

Medina's achievement came with Hidilyn Diaz's silver medal conquest in the Summer Olympics still fresh on every Filipino's mind.

“This is the first time our Filipino athletes won in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, which is the counterpart of the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities. Sumakto po ang ating pagpasa ng bagong athletes incentives law dahil talagang napakinabangan ito ng ating mahuhusay at world-class Filipino athletes tulad nina Hidilyn at Josephine,” continued Angara.

The said resolution, in which a copy was obtained by Dugout Philippines, also entitles Medina's coach, Mark Eballa, to a PHP 500 thousand incentive.

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