Filipino athletes with sports officials during the send-off for the 2026 Asian Games, September 10, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Handout/Philippine Olympic CommitteeMANILA — Filipino athletes received an additional boost ahead of the 20th Asian Games and 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio pledged an additional P6,000 allowance for the delegation.
"Lahat ng atleta at coaches na lalahok sa Asian Games, dadagdagan na natin ang allowance niyo. Bawat isa po, nag-approve po ang Philippine Sports Commission. All athletes and coaches will get an additional P6,000 para sa darating na Asian Games," Gregorio said during Thursday's send-off at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
"Pero yan ho ay maliit na bagay. Tulong po ng PSC at POC [Philippine Olympic Committee] at ng PHILSPADA [Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled] yan sa inyo. Pero gandahan pa natin ang talagang, gandahan na natin itong pagsubok na ito," he added.
Gregorio said the additional allowance, which is on top of what athletes and coaches are currently receiving, was given upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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The PSC chairman also revealed that they are planning for an additional incentive for the entire Philippine delegation if they surpass their gold medal haul from the previous Asiad.
In the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Filipino athletes brought home four gold medals while para athletes captured 10 gold medals.
"Pag nilagpasan niyo yung apat na medal yung ginto sa Nagoya at pag nilagpasan ni para yung sampung medal yung ginto... Basta lagpasan niyo yung apat... Ako na mismo ang makikiusap sa mga PSC commissioners, additional reward to the entire delegation," Gregorio said.
The PSC chief did not give further details on the exact amount for the incentives.
"We just have to figure out magkano yun. Ang importante talunin natin yung four [gold medals] noong 2023 at 2018. Okay na paghandaan yan," Gregorio said.
"Yung gantimpala po, yung rewards kasama po yan sa batas natin. Sigurado po tayo si Pangulong Marcos magdadagdag yan like in the past," he added.
Under Republic Act No. 10699, athletes that win a medal in individual events at the Asian Games get an incentive of P2 million for gold, P1 million for silver and P400,000 for bronze.
Instead of putting pressure on the athletes, Gregorio said they are looking to motivate them to ensure they perform well in the continental showcase.
"Tinatanong ako lang media ilang ginto at sino ang mag-giginto? Ang sagot ko ho, lahat ng ipapadala sa Asian Games pwedeng mag-ginto. Lahat pwedeng magmedalya because elite na po ito, kayang kaya na po natin to," he said.
"Let us all beat that four gold medals. Let us achieve more, let us beat the ten medals of para. Let us achieve more and when you come back you will have a very good Christmas. I assure you, mabuhay po kayong lahat," Gregorio added.
This picture taken on September 8, 2025 shows a woman walking past an advertisement for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. Yuichi Yamazaki, AFP
POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino likewise encouraged the athletes to go all out in the continental showcase.
"Hindi ko kayo pine-pressure, pero itodo niyo na ang galing niyo. Ibigay niyo na lahat ng makakaya niyo. Lahat kayo I know you can deliver," he said.
"Very very confident. Based sa analysis, sa training, sa composition. Nasa peak lahat ng atleta natin. Star-studded [itong team]. Apat sa martial arts, apat sa non-combat, baka sobra pa. Ang daming pagkukunan," Tolentino added.
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The Philippines is sending 464 athletes across 38 sports, the second biggest delegation since the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, to the 2026 edition in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Team Philippines will begin its campaign on Friday, when Gilas Pilipinas faces Bahrain in men's 5x5 basketball to kick off its title defense.
The 20th Asian Games will officially open on September 19 and run until October 4.