P2 million more for Diaz from Pres. Rody

Photo by: RTVM

OLYMPIC weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who hailed from Zamboanga City, will receive an additional P2 million bonus from President Rodrigo Duterte.

This is on top of the P5 million cash reward stated in RA 10699 or National athletes, coaches and trainers Benefits Act, signed into law in 2015.

"She got a ₱5M prize, I added another ₱2 million," the President said.


Duterte added that he gave extra bonus to further encourage other athletes and would-be-athletes that after their hard training and sacrifice — a reward in cash and honor is waiting them.

"Honor in sports is very hard to get by," he said.

Last Thursday night, August 11, Diaz paid a courtesy visit to the President. She was then greeted by Duterte with a congratulatory salute at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City.

Meanwhile, Diaz shared that she planned to put up a weightlifting gym in Zamboanga City with the money she received and a lot beside their residence.

"Plano kong bumili ng lupa sa side ng bahay namin patayuan ko din ng weightlifting gym (I plan to buy a piece of lot beside our house to put up a gym)."

When asked on her goals for the coming years, Diaz was quick to add that she was setting her sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, now eyeing the Gold medal.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez, for his part, said that the commission’s priority program under the Duterte administration is to establish the Institute of Sports before December, the first in the country.

Ramirez added that the developing grassroots sports program is essential to improve the chances of the Philippine athletes in the international sports scene. AJRSP

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