ECC KaGabay Program fulfills PWRDs desire to be productive again
Arthur Diwan, a 49 year-old resident of Asin Road, Baguio City, worked as a locomotive operator for 28 years in Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company. On 4 May 2014, his right leg was severely injured when he was accidentally hit by a passing locomotive and was not able to pull it out immediately. It eventually led to his above the knee amputation.
He filed for Employee Compensation (EC) claim and was granted an amount of P52,000.00. On 3 November 2014, he expressed his desire to avail of the physical therapy and prosthesis under the Employees’ Compensation Commission’s (ECC) Katulong at Gabay ng Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program. He said that this would be very beneficial for his mobility and be productive again,
He also conveyed his desire to avail of the free livelihood training. He said that once his leg prosthesis is already available, he would like to pursue organic mushroom production because he sees this as a potential source of income.
On 20 February 2015, Diwan’s above knee modular prosthesis worth P130,000 from the ECC was fitted to him.
Not wasting any precious time, Diwan underwent training for Oyster Mushroom Production on 23-24 March 2015 at Benguet State University, together with other PWRDs.
Now, Diwan has already set up a conducive area in his home where his mushroom fruiting bags are placed.
“Given the right kind of support and assistance, persons with work-related disabilities can become economically independent and productive again. That is the ultimate goal of the KaGabay Program,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.
PWRDs in Region 1 extend heartfelt gratitude to ECC
LA UNION – “Hindi namin inaasahan na may ganitong programa pala ang gobyerno na handang tumulong sa aming mga manggagawa na naaksidente dahil sa trabaho. Maraming salamat sa ECC at nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon para makapagsimula ulit,” expressed by persons with work related disability assisted by the Employees’ Compensation Commission.
These PWRDs recently received their EC disability benefits and are currently enrolled in the ECC Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang Pilipino (KaGabay) program.
Jayson Palabay, 22, was an employee in a paper company where he accidentally got his right hand caught in a paper-cutting machine. The mishap resulted in the loss of three of Palabay’s fingers.
Another PWRD is Keen Harley Viernes, 28, who worked as a credit investigator for a company that sells furniture and home appliances. During one of his official errands, Viernes figured in a motorcycle accident that fractured his right leg.
The third one is Arturo Amezola, 58, a utility person in a home depot whose right foot was crushed by a box full of ceramic tiles.
Palabay, Viernes and Amezola, all residents of La Union, were displaced from their employment.
The ECC, on its own initiative and with referrals from Department of Labor and Employment Region I, managed to track down the said PWRDs and provide basic orientation on the Employees’ Compensation Program as well as in the filing of EC claims.
Palabay, Viernes and Amezola soon received their monthly pension as EC disability benefits from the Social Security System.
The ECC extended further aid by enrolling the three PWRDs in its KaGabay Program.
KaGabay is a flagship program of the ECC that facilitates reintegration of PWRDs into the economic mainstream through physical restoration and skills or entrepreneurship training.
When a worker’s claim for permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits is approved by the System, such worker becomes qualified under the KaGabay.
The three PWRDs, after availing free physical therapy sessions from the ECC’s partner hospitals in Region 1, opted to undergo skills trainings.
At present, Palabay is taking up Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Viernes is studying Computer Hardware Servicing while Amezolais registered in an Automotive Servicing training course.
ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis explained that the ECP is not limited to monetary compensation.
“The approach adopted in helping PWRDs is holistic, which means that on top of the monetary benefits, the ECC also offers access to programs and services such as the KaGabay so that PWRDs can achieve functional independence as they enter the economic mainstream,” said Banawis.
PWRD, re-employed by former company, thanks to ECC’s KaGabay Program
William Layuan is a former maintenance worker of Dole Philippines who accidentally injured his fingers while working. As his injury was proven work-related, he was granted permanent partial disability benefit under the Employee Compensation (EC) Program.
Layuan became a beneficiary of the Employees’ Compensation Commission’s (ECC) Katulong at Gabay ng Manggagawang May Kapansanan (KaGabay). With the assistance of the staff of ECC Regional Extension Unit No. 12, he took Automotive Servicing NCII in Schola de San Jose in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Finishing the said course upgraded his skill. After his graduation on 23 March 2015, Dole Philippines hired him again but not as a maintenance worker. He is now a skilled employee of the company working as a machine operator for juicing machine due to his enhanced skill provided by the ECC-KaGabay Program.
“The KaGabay Program aims to empower the persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) to be economically independent amidst their disabilities by providing them with rehabilitation services, and then giving them free skills or livelihood trainings,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis explained.
Another KaGabay beneficiary in South Cotabato was able to finish her course with flying colors.
Marevic Monding, a former field worker of AMCOOP in Surallah, South Cotabato, took Computer Servicing NCII at South East Asian Insittute of Technology (SEAIT) in Tupi, South Cotabato. She was a victim of a vehicular accident inside the company site and had serious injuries on her back, causing her to stop working for a few months. After availing of the ECC’s free physical therapy at the Doctors Clinic and Hospital, Inc. in Koronadal City, she immediately grabbed the opportunity offered by the ECC KaGabay Program to gain more knowledge and skills in computer troubleshooting. She graduated last 30 March 2015 with the distinction of being the Outstanding Trainee of SEAIT
She is now preparing to take part in the upcoming Labor Day Job Fair On 1 May 2015 as she would like to work again.
“It is our dream for the PWRDs to succeed. Their condition should not become a hindrance to achieve their goals and aspirations,” Banawis said.