Six Filipino Paralympians to get additional allowance from PSC

Filipino para athletes set to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics will each get an additional travel allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ahead of the Games.

PSC said in a statement that each of the athletes, their coaches, and accompanying officials will be receiving P100,000 additional allowance, hiking to P150,000 their total allowance for the tournament slated from August 24 to September 5.

PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez had also asked Chef de Mission Francis Diaz to encourage his colleagues at the University of the Philippines to prepare the athletes mentally and psychologically.

Ramirez stressed this aspect was a proven formula for the Philippine team's success in the recent Tokyo Olympics, where four Filipinos landed on the podium.

“If you're enjoying the game, your game becomes better as well,” Ramirez said of the para athletes.

Wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan (para athletics) was designated to carry the country’s flag in the opening ceremony while Ernie Gawilan (swimming) will have the same role in the closing ceremony.

Completing the six-person delegation are discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda, swimmer Gary Bejino, taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and powerlifter Achelle Guion.

“The PSC also added travel allowances to our athletes in the Olympics because of the high cost of living in Japan,” explained Ramirez.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News