• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government distributed a total of P1.782 million in cash incentives June 18 to athletes and coaches, for their successful campaign in the Palarong Pambansa 2026 in Agusan del Sur.
Bacolod City, competing under the newly-unified Negros Island Region delegation, netted 12 gold, 11 silver, and 18 bronze medals during the national games last month.
“What you went through in the training is a clear message for this generation on how to be consistent, and how to be able to fight against circumstances,” Mayor Greg Gasataya told the delegation during the awarding ceremony at the Bacolod Government Center lobby.
Athletes and coaches received P18,000 for each gold medal, P15,000 for a silver medal, and P10,000 for a bronze medal.
The city government also granted cash incentives to assistant coaches, at P15,000 for gold, P12,000 for silver, and P8,000 for bronze.
Team trainers and chaperones were rewarded with P10,000 for gold, P8,000 for silver, and P5,000 for bronze.
Meanwhile, a P1,000 cash bonus was given to each non-winning athlete.
The standout star was elementary swimmer Sofia Ysabela Secuelan, from St. John’s Institute.
In her Palarong Pambansa debut, Secuelan was Bacolod’s top multi-medalist after she won the gold in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 200m freestyle events.
She took home the highest individual incentive package of the day, totaling P54,000.
“(This) means a lot to me because I worked really hard to achieve this,” the 12-year-old swimmer said in a city press release as she recalled how she balanced her studies and training in preparation for the national competition. | TMD
