Cash incentives amounting to P350,000 will be given by the Provincial Government to the Negros athletes who claimed medals in the 2006 Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association Meet in Roxas City, Capiz, Rosanna Anasariar, administration officer of the Negros Occidental Department of Education, said yesterday.

In a welcome party at the Capitol yesterday, Gov. Joseph Marañon said the gold, silver and bronze medalists will receive P800, P200 and P100, respectively, to be given within the week.

Marañon said that the Provincial Government could not compensate for all of the efforts of the Negros student-athletes, but it is doing its best to recognize them.

"The Provincial Government will always recognize your performances and we are trying our best to at least make you happy in our own little ways, " Marañon told the student athletes.

The Negrenses clinched the overall championship in the elementary division after collecting 360.5 championship points, while the secondary athletes of Negros tallied 432.5 championship points for the overall win.

Anasariar, who handles the computation of the incentives, said the Capitol has allotted P205,000 for the winning competitors, but the amount would most likely balloon to P350,000 because the contingent snared the titles in both categories.

University of St. La Salle student Joel Pimentel, gold medal winner in Board 1 of the secondary boys' chess hostilities, said he is glad that his efforts have been recognized by the Provincial Government through the cash incentives, which he will add to his savings.

Bagoeño Raffy Hechanova, who claimed golds in high school boys' swimming, said he will give his incentive to his parents who continue to support him.

Elementary girls' shot put gold medallist Maika De Oro said the incentive will motivate her to do better in the Palarong Pambansa tentatively set from May 7-13 in Naga City, Bicol.

Negros took the overall title in the secondary division of the regional event in Iloilo last year as the Ilonggos ruled the elementary competitions.

The Negros athletes expressed elation over the Capitol's gesture.

Felipe Dumancas, the DepEd Negros Occidental school sports head, also thanked Marañon for the incentives.

During the welcome party that was also attended by Vice-gov. Isidro Zayco, and board members Emilio Yulo III and Manuel Frederick Ko, the Negros delegation gave Marañon a streamer with all of their signatures in it as a birthday and as a sign of appreciation for all of his support.

Marañon said the Provincial Government will continue its support for the Negrenses who will compete in the national Palaro. *CIT

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