By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino prized pole vaulter EJ Obiena will be receiving 250,000 pesos from the Philippine Sports Commission after setting a new Philippine record.
The cash incentive was approved under Section 8 of Republic Act 10699 or the expanded National Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001.
As stated in RA 10699: “national athletes and other athletes who surpass Philippine record or ranking in any measurable international sports competition shall be given cash incentives, the amount of which may be determined by the PSC.”
Obiena broke his own current national record of 5.87-meters after clearing the 5.91-meters mark during the recently concluded Wanda Diamond League leg in France.
The Tokyo Olympian’s 5.91-meters final tally earned him the second-place finish during the World Diamond League.
Obiena joined an elite company of pole vaulters during his record-breaking performance, placing behind Tokyo Olympics’ gold medalist and world-record holder Armand Duplantis who took the crown with an impressive score of 6.01-meters.
