Paalam batted his request for additional incentives for the coaches on Monday saying that “Sana din po mapansin din ‘yung mga coach po. Hindi  kami gagaling kung hindi dahil sa kanila.”

MVPSF will award P11 million out of the P40.5 million allotted cash incentives to the coaches of both the weightlifting and boxing teams.

“The coaches also sacrificed as they were away from their families as much as the athlete, so they should also be compensated for their athletes’ success,” said MV Al S. Panlilio.

“The MVPSF knows that it takes a village to win a medal in the Olympics. It takes combined efforts from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the private sector to help our athletes succeed.”

Coaches will also receive the cash rewards mandated by Republic Act 10699, also known as the National Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act.

The same law granted P10 million to Hidilyn Diaz, the first-ever gold medalist, P5 million to Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, silver medalists, and P2 million to Eumir Marcial, bronze medalist.

“It’s a breakthrough and a milestone event for Philippine sports as we’ve had our best medal haul, including our first-ever gold,” said MVPSF Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

MVPSF, in partnership with the POC, also handed out P500,000 each to non-medalists which included gymnast Caloy Yulo, weightlifter Elreen Ando, skateboarder Margie Didal, golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Juvic Pagunsan, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule, boxer Irish Magno, rower Cris Nievarez, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, sprinter Kristina Knott, jin Kurt Barbosa, and shooter Jayson Valdez.

“Our investment in the country’s sports development is all worth it when we see the effort of our athletes to represent the country to the best of their abilities. The victories they achieve and the pride they give our country are priceless,” said Pangilinan.