MANILA, Philippines — National athletes that will contribute gold medals to the Philippines’ cause in its forthcoming hosting of the 30^th edition of the Southeast Asian Games will have their incentives doubled.

It was after the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on Friday announced that the mother sports association is also giving P300 thousand pesos to athletes that will win a gold medal in the biennial SEA Games set to start November 30 and ends in December 11.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced the decision during the organizations executive board meeting Friday at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay.

The same amount of cash incentives will be given also by the government as part of its rewards to all the national athletes for giving honor and prestige to the country based on Republic Act 10699 or the Athletes Incentive Act.

The incentive will serve as additional motivation for all the national athletes to strive much harder to win gold medals as the country aims for its second overall championships since joining the multi-sports competition in 1977.

Hermie Macaranas of Dragonboat and Carlos Edriel “Caloy” Yulo has the most chances of gaining the incentive as they are entered in several events.

Macaranas is entered in nine events of dragonboat while Yulo is set to compete in all seven apparatus of the gymnastics competition. (LOredo/IAMIGO/CNS)