Push Admin

Not enough support for PH athletes, Marcos Jr admits

Article (news)

Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the awarding of incentives to Team Philippines medalists in Cambodia SEA Games and ASEAN PARAGAMES at the Ceremonial Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, August 09, 2023. (KJ ROSALES/PPA POOL)" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/08/09/20230809-pbbm.jpg"/><figcaption>President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the awarding of incentives to Team Philippines medalists in Cambodia SEA Games and ASEAN PARAGAMES at the Ceremonial Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, August 09, 2023. <em>(KJ ROSALES/PPA POOL)</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3>Despite this, Marcos praises athletes: &#x27;Ang ganda ganda pa rin ng resulta&#x27;</h3><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr on Wednesday admitted that government is not giving enough support to Filipino athletes despite the “honor and pride” they bring to the Philippines</p><p>In his speech during the giving of incentives to athletes who won medals during the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games, Marcos said that despite the lack of support, these athletes succeeded in the competitions.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/24/23/marcos-assures-seag-bound-athletes-of-support">Marcos assures SEAG-bound athletes of support</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/23/23/team-ph-hailed-for-strong-performance-in-sea-games">Team PH hailed for &#x27;strong performance&#x27; in SEA Games</a></li></ul><p>“I am always a little embarrassed when I see that we are not supporting our athletes and our coaches and our trainers and all the support groups. Even their families. Alam naman natin, hindi kayo naging champion na nag-iisa,&quot; said the President. </p><p>&quot;At marami ang tumulong sa inyo para kayo ay maging champion. Marami ang nagsakripisyo, iyong ating mga coach, sino ang nagpapakain sa inyo, iyong mga magulang ninyo,” he added. </p><p>“Kung iniisip ko, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, karamihan diyan hindi natin natulungan. Talagang kung saan-saan na lang kumukuha ng suporta. Nakakahiya. Pero ganoon pa rin ang resulta, ang ganda ganda pa rin ng resulta,” he said.</p><p>Marcos assured the athletes that his administration is committed to support them, as well as those who helped them, so that they may continue to thrive in their respective sports.</p><p>&quot;Kaya asahan ninyo na sa administrasyon na ito ay gagawin natin ang lahat para masuportahan natin at maipalabas natin ang kagalingan, ang husay ng ating atleta,” he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/09/23/ph-ends-asean-para-games-with-34-gold-medals">ASEAN Para Games: Philippines surpasses previous record with 34 gold medals</a></li></ul><p>“Kaya’t gumawa kami ng paraan at gagawa kami ng plano na susuportahan natin lalo na Philippine team na athletes at coaches and trainers at saka mga nutritionist at tsaka pati na mga driver pati na… lahat,” he added.</p><p>Over 900 Filipino athletes competed in the recent SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games held last May and June 2023 in Cambodia, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.</p><p>Philippines placed 5th in the overall medal tally, winning a total of 58 and 34 gold medals, respectively.</p><p>The PCO noted that under Republic Act No. 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, athletes who won in the competitions for the individual games category are entitled to receive the following:</p><div><strong>For SEA Games winners</strong></div><ul>	<li>P300,000 - gold medalist </li>	<li>P150,000 - silver medalist</li>	<li>P60,000 - bronze medalist</li></ul><div><strong>For ASEAN Para Games winners</strong></div><ul>	<li>P150,000 - gold medalist</li>	<li>P75,000 - silver medalist</li>	<li>P30,000 -bronze medalist</li></ul><p>“Teams with less than four participants will receive the same cash incentives for individual winners, to be divided equally among the team members present during the competition, while for teams with more than five participants, each member will receive 25 percent of the cash incentives for individual medal winners,” PCO said in a statement.</p><p>However, PCO Sec Cheloy Garafil confirmed that Pres. Marcos has added the incentives given to the winning athletes.</p><p>“He has doubled it,” she told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Coaches, on the other hand, will also receive cash incentives, the amount of which will depend on the medals awarded to the respective athletes they handled, PCO said.</p><p>Philippine Olympic Committee president and Cavite Rep. Abraham &quot;Bambol&quot; Tolentino thanked the President for reiterating his full support to Filipino athletes and Philippine sports in general.</p><p>“President Marcos Jr. welcoming the athletes in Malacanang and personally handing them their incentives is more than enough a strong gesture of his strong belief and confidence in our athletes,” Tolentino said in a statement</p><p>“Committing more incentives to the athletes shows that his heart and passion goes with Filipino athletes.</p><p>He added that the President showed concern for the athletes by addressing not only their efforts but also the sacrifices made by their team and support group—from their coaches and trainers and more importantly, their families.</p><p>“President Marcos’s support to the athletes goes far, wide and deep,” Tolentino said. “And I was touched by the fact that our President even praised the drivers who bring our athletes to and from their training and competition venues. That’s heart.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2755384" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video from PTV</em></div>

Marcos assured the athletes that his administration is committed to support them, as well as those who helped them, so that they may continue to thrive.

Not enough support for PH athletes, Marcos Jr admits

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Not enough support for PH athletes, Marcos Jr admits

Joyce Balancio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 09, 2023 04:53 PM PHT

|

Updated August 09, 2023 09:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Filipino athletes

medalists

SEA Games

ASEAN Para Games

incentives

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Team Philippines

Southeast Asian Games

SEA Games 2023

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.