Carlo Paalam hopes PH boxing coaches receive more incentives after Tokyo campaign

Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam and his fellow medalled athletes are set to receive a good amount of rewards and incentives after their accomplishments in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

The Filipino boxer is hoping that their coaches on the Philippine boxing team, who were instrumental in a historic run that saw boxing deliver three medals in one edition of the games, are also recognized for their contributions.

"I hope our coaches will also be noticed because we would have not gotten to this point if not for them," Paalam said in Filipino during a press conference Sunday morning.

"I hope they will be given incentives even though they are not as grand as ours."

Aside from Paalam's silver, Filipina pug Nesthy Petecio bagged a silver medal as well while Eumir Marcial settled for bronze, hiking the country's medal tally to four after the golden performance by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

The Philippine boxing team employs high-caliber coaches like Ronald Chavez, a former boxing Olympian who competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games and was a 1992 SEA Games gold medalist in Bangkok.

At the helm of the team is Australian consultant Don Abnett whie the coaching staff also counts Elmer Pamisa, Reynaldi Galido, and Nolito Velasco, the brother of Filipino Olympic medalists Roel Velasco and Manueto 'Onyok' Velasco, among its ranks.

For Paalam, these coaches are also deserving of the spotlight as they were with them every step of the way.

"These [victories] aren't only for and because of us," Paalam stressed. "I hope they get [incentives as well] so their morale will also be boosted. We can't be here if not for them."

By law, the coaches are tipped to receive incentives. Based on Republic Act No. 10699, the incentives for the coaches shall be equivalent to 50% of the cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze medalists. And in case of more than one coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among themselves.

Petecio and Paalam, as silver medalists, are set to receive P5 million each to be given by the government, as mandated by RA No. 10699. Marcial is also set to receive P2 million under the same law.

Including pledges from sports patrons and corporations, though, the two are expected to be rewarded at least P17 million in cash rewards, free flights, free fuels and other bonuses.

Marcial, for his bronze, is also expected to receive at least P7 million and a 40,000 Mabuhay Miles per year from Philippine Airlines.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News