The Philippine Sports Commission has approved the monthly meal allowance of P5,000 for national training pool athletes and their coaches.

In an advisory released by the PSC last 22 March, this policy will cover an athlete's meal allowance up until 30 June.

Athletes who are based abroad are excluded from the policy due to their approved training expenses and those of a similar nature.

This policy will help out national athletes, especially those training to make it into the Paris Olympics in July.

So far, the Philippines only has six athletes qualified for the Summer Games: Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas and Eumir Marcial of boxing, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena.

Sports such as weightlifting, boxing, rowing, swimming and judo are making their bids to add more athletes to the Philippine team.

A nine-man weightlifting is currently competing in the Asian championships in Phuket, Thailand while the boxing squad is revving up for the second and last Olympic qualifying tournament set to be staged in Bangkok in June.