TACLOBAN CITY – Tacloban-born Olympian Aira Villegas received a brand-new car worth P1.4 million as a surprise gift during the “Tribute to Our Local Athletes” ceremony on August 23.
The event was organized by the Office of House Speaker and First District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, along with Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, held at the People’s Center, this city.
The car, personally handed by Rep. Yedda Romualdez to the bronze Olympic medalist, was used to bring Villegas and her family to her new house and lot in Palo, Leyte, valued at P6 million, a promise fulfilled by Speaker Romualdez during Villegas’ visit to Congress a week ago.
On Thursday, August 22, Villegas received P2 million in cash rewards from Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the Tacloban City Council, and the Hiraya Foundation.
Villegas, 29, made history as the first-ever Olympic medalist from Tacloban, winning a medal in boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Meanwhile, during the same event, Eastern Visayas athletes who participated in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa, which saw Eastern Visayas’ highest placing at 7th, along with their parents and coaches, received P10,000 in assistance/incentives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Medalists received additional incentives: P7,000 for bronze, P8,000 for silver, and P10,000 for gold. Coaches of winning athletes also received an additional P10,000.
Aside from Rep. Romualdez, also present during the event were Karla Estrada, Department of Education Regional Director Evelyn Fetalvero, and DSWD Assistant Regional Director Clarito Logronio.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
