Philippine curling team gets P2M gov't cash, $5K POC bonus for historic gold

The Philippine men's curling team will receive a P2 million cash incentive from the government and an additional $5,000 each from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) following their historic gold medal win at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

Under Republic Act No. 10699, individual gold medalists for Asian Games and related events are entitled to P2 million cash incentive, with team sports receiving 25% of that sum.

The Philippine team defeated South Korea 5-3 to secure the country's first-ever medal in an Asian Winter Games.

On Monday, the POC honored the team by handing out $5,000 each as an additional incentive before they left for Switzerland.

Upon their return on Saturday night, the team was greeted by Philippine Sports Commission officials including Chairman Richard Bachmann and Commissioner Bong Co., and later honored with a pre-flight lunch hosted by POC President Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

Tolentino highlighted the victory as a significant milestone for Philippine sports and emphasized that serious steps are now being undertaken to qualify for next year's Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.