MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said that performing Filipino athletes would receive financial assistance or incentives in 2020 based on their respective achievements in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“An overall assessment of all athletes will be done to identify who among them really deserve funding from the government,” said Ramirez in an online news media.

“We have been all out in supporting our athletes for the SEA Games. Starting January, we will make sure that the financial assistance will be performance-based,” the PH chef-de-mission in the SEA Games added.

Ramirez said that PSC will categorize athletes and sports into three tiers.

Tier 1 will be composed of athletes who have given pride and honor to the country in high-level tournaments overseas.

The sports commission identified at least 20 names in Tier 1 which includes world champions Carlos Edriel Yulo of gymnastics and Nesthy Petecio in boxing, Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting) and Asian champions EJ Obiena (pole vault) and skateboarder Margielyn Didal.

Other athletes who deserve the sports agency support will be in Tier 2.

While non-performing sports and their athletes will comprise tier 3. (Lloyd Tagbago/IAMIGO/CNS)