Manila, Philippines, December 22, 2021: The government’s Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) have extended financial assistance to national athletes and coaches affected by Typhoon Odette.
The PSC Board has approved the release of a P15,000 (300 USD) support for each of the 85 athletes and 20 coaches from 24 sports as part of their relief efforts, the Manila Bulletin reports.
A P50,000 (1,000 USD) financial aid has also been approved for the reconstruction of the weightlifting gym in Bohol.
Following the instructions of PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez, the management committee headed by Atty. Guillermo Iroy is already coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the transport and delivery of 10,000 bottled water and 900 mattresses.
The POC, meanwhile, has also sent P10,000 (200 USD) financial support each to the 10 surfers and two coaches in Siargao, as well as Olympic marathon runner Mary Joy Tabal in Cebu City who were also affected by the typhoon.
Meanwhile, the PSC will also be handing out P10,000 cash gifts as holiday bonus to members of the national team.
The PSC Board approved the holiday monetary gift in their last meeting. It will be on top of their monthly allowances.
There are 1,421 athletes and 349 coaches benefitting from this bonus.
Typhoon Odette, known internationally as Typhoon Rai, battered the Philippines last Thursday, December 16. It tore off roofs, uprooted trees, toppled concrete power poles, smashed wooden houses to pieces, wiped out crops and flooded villages — sparking comparisons to the damage caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, said the Inquirer.
At least 375 people were killed and 56 are missing in the latest disaster to hit the archipelago, with 500 more injured, the national police said.