Press Release
August 8, 2016

Diaz to receive P5-mil cash award
ANGARA FILES RESO CONGRATULATING OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST HIDILYN DIAZ

Senator Sonny Angara today filed a resolution congratulating and commending Olympic weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for winning a historical silver medal for the Philippines in the Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Diaz bagged a silver medal at the women's 53-kg category in weightlifting, finishing with a score of 200-kg.

It is the first Philippine Olympic medal since 1996 when Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco won silver in the light flyweight boxing competition during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.

She is the first Filipina and the first non-boxer to win a medal since 1936.

Hailing from Zamboanga City, Diaz is also the first Olympic medalist from Mindanao.

"Being first of many triumphs in Philippine sports history, Diaz's silver medal is truly momentous. She is also the first Olympic medalist to benefit from the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives law or Republic Act 10699 which we authored and sponsored last year. Under the new law, she will be receiving P5 million in cash incentive tax-free. Kung nanalo siya noong 2012, P2.5 million lang ang matatanggap niya," said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate committee on sports.

The 2016 Olympics is Diaz's third participation in the Games following her 2008 Beijing and 2012 London stints.

RA 10699 increases the amount of cash incentives and expands the benefits given to winning athletes, coaches and trainers, and includes athletes with disabilities in the grant of benefits and incentives.

For the Olympic Games, the gold medalists will be granted P10 million, the silver medalists P5 million, and the bronze medalists P2 million each.

Diaz shall also be receiving scholarship and retirement benefits, which is equivalent to 25 percent of all her winning throughout her career. These incentives and benefits shall be over and above the standard national athlete benefits that include discounts in lodging, transportation, medicine, sports equipment, amusement, free medical and dental consultation, Philhealth and SSS coverage, priority in housing programs and loans, and the use of living quarters.

"Through grit and determination, she was able to make history not only for herself and her fellow athletes, but for the entire country. With her dedication and countless hours of training, Diaz's hard work finally paid off in one glorious moment that cemented her name in Philippine sports history," said Angara in Senate Resolution No. 88.

"Diaz is a rare shining star in our quest for Olympics success. May her historic win inspire and blaze the way for other Filipino and Filipina athletes, as well as our youth, to courageously follow their own Olympic dreams and bring honor to our country," he added.

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