How much do Filipino athletes earn when they bring home the gold, how does it compare to other countries?
It's only fitting for athletes who emerge victorious in international games to have all their hard work paid off by monetary means. After all, not only did they shed blood, sweat, and tears in training, but they also brought tremendous pride to their respective countries.
Filipino Olympian pole vaulter EJ Obiena, for instance, made the Philippines proud when he bagged the country’s first gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
This was after he ruled the men's pole vault when he cleared 5.90 meters, shattering the record of Japan’s Seito Yamamoto who leaped 5.70 m during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Prior to this, Obiena also soared high during the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games when he won the Philippines' 19th gold medal after he cleared 5.65 meters to secure the victory in the men's pole vault.
Such achievements could be real backbreakers, which is why Obiena, along with other Filipino athletes who shine at these international games, are showered with cash incentives to reward them for their feats.
How much are the cash incentives?
In the Philippines, athletes who represent the country and have win big in international sports competitions are entitled to cash incentives from the government, as mandated by Republic Act 10699, otherwise known as the "Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001."
However, not every athlete gets to receive the same amount of incentive. It all depends on what international sports competition they participated in and whether they are gold, silver, or bronze medalists.
The highest amount given to athletes are those who brought home the gold in the Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games, being P10 million.
For other games, the government awards the following to gold medalists:
- P5 million for Youth Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
- P2 million for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
- P1 million for Asian Para Games and World-level competitions held at least every two years with at least 45 countries participating
- P500,000 for Asian Beach Games, Asian-level competitions held at least every two years with at least 25 countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games
- P300,000 for SEA Games
- P100,000 for ASEAN Para Games
Silver medalists are meanwhile awarded:
- P5 million for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games
- P2.5 million for Youth Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
- P1 million for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
- P500,000 for Asian Para Games and World-level competitions held at least every two years with at least 45 countries participating
- P250,000 for Asian Beach Games, Asian-level competitions held at least every two years with at least 25 countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games
- P150,000 for SEA Games
- P75,000 for ASEAN Para Games
Lastly, bronze medalists are awarded:
- P2 million for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games
- P1 million for Youth Olympic Games and Paralympic Games;
- P400,000 for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games;
- P200,000 for Asian Para Games and World-level competitions held at least every two years with at least 45 countries participating;
- P100,000 for Asian Beach Games, Asian-level competitions held at least every two years with at least 25 countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games;
- P60,000 for SEA Games;
- P30,000 for ASEAN Para Games
Can athletes earn more?
What Filipino athletes earn from thriving in international sports games aren't limited to what the government provides as they can receive cash windfalls from their benefactors and supporters.
In the case of Obiena, the world's number two pole vaulter received a P5 million check from the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. in Binondo, Manila for his successful performance in the SEA and Asian Games.
He also got P3 million from his alma mater Chiang Kai-siek College, P1 million from businessman Anton Tan, and P1 million from ambassador Carlos Chan.
These rewards can also come in the form of properties and lifestyle services. For instance, when Hidilyn Diaz nabbed the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal, the country paid her forward with several perks such as a P14-million Megaworld condo unit in Manila, a house and lot in Tagaytay, free flights from AirAsia, and more.
How much do other countries reward their athletes?
Receiving cash incentives that can go as high as P10 million is already a big help for athletes in the Philippines, but how does it compare to how other countries reward their hardworking players?
A report by AFP detailed that India awards its gold medalists at the Asian Games with $36,000 (P2 million), something that is considered a "fortune" as the country has an average income of $2,380 (P135,111).
In Singapore, the country's National Olympic Committee gives $146,000 (P8.2 million) to those who win gold while Asian Games medalists in Indonesia will be gifted a free home, as long as they provide the land to build it on.
South Korea meanwhile rewards male athletes who excel at the games by exempting them from at least 18 months of military service.