P200K per person for 2 Cebu Olympians

By: Niña Mae C. Oliverio – 7 minutes ago

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City government has given financial incentives to two Cebu Olympians who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, weightlifters Elreen Ando and John Febuar Ceniza.

Ando and Ceniza will each receive P200,000 in cash. The cash incentive was received by each of their families during the flag-off ceremony on Monday, July 29. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Edward Hayco was present during the giving of the incentives.

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Furthermore, Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia promised to reward them P1,000,000 if they win gold, P500,000 for silver and P300,000 if they get bronze. And these funds will come from his “own pocket.”

Garcia was joined by Councilmembers Jocelyn Pesquera and Francis Esparis in handing out the incentives.

“This is in line with our commitment and our intention that sport will be important and meaningful and will be a priority in this government,” Garcia said.

In an interview with Hayco on Monday, it was stated that the financial incentive from the city government is “very important” for the athletes, as some of them are “underprivileged”.

“Kaning P200,000 dako kaayo ni sa ila… Dili na lalim mahimong atleta kay dako kaayo kag gasto, unya limitado kaayo ang income,” Hayco said.

(Those 200,000 pesos are a big amount for them… It’s not easy being an athlete because you spend a lot and your income is limited.)

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Ando and Ceniza each receive P200,000 from UC for qualifying for the Paris Olympics

But beyond the financial incentives, Hayco said the “most important thing” the athletes could get would be “moral support.”

Hayco, who became emotional as he said this, said that moral support from the city council would be very important for the athletes.

“There’s no harm in offering help,” he said.

(The support of the city council is very important to them.)

Hayco said it would also be important that incentives from local government units (LGU) be given to deserving sports leaders.

In addition, Gary Hortelano, who has previously been able to train Ando and Ceniza, said the incentive is “a great help” for the athletes.

“As a coach I am so proud of them and I hope they never change and they stay who they are. Hopefully they share what they have now and for the years to come,” Hortelano said.

Hortelano said the financial incentive could further motivate athletes to practice their sport, knowing they have the support of the city government.

“They can realize that they are not alone. They are playing for the entire city of Cebu,” he said.

Elreen Ando made history as the first weightlifter from Cebu to qualify for the Olympic Games after she qualified during the 2021 Tokyo Games.

John Febuar Ceniza is competing at the Olympic Games for the first time after qualifying for the IWF World Cup in Thailand.

Both athletes honed their skills through Cebu City’s grassroots program and represent the UC Webmasters. | Reported by Glendale Rosal

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