The Employees’ Compensation Commission granted a total amount of Php 1,041,182,633.69 of EC benefits to 258,904 claims for work-connected contingencies in 2013 benefitting both the public and private sector employees Chair of the ECC Board and Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said.

Baldoz stated that compared to 2012 where benefits were at Php 1,064,100,584.00 for 267,248 claims, the total benefits granted for 2013 is 2.15% lower.

The Government Service Insurance System, the administering agency for the public sector and uniformed personnel, granted 7,165 EC claims amounting to Php 57,199,109.69.

The GSIS approved a total of 943 number of claims for death and pension benefits amounting to Php 9,349,375.49; 3,911 claims for disability benefits amounting to Php 32,374,440.15; 340 claims for sickness benefit in the amount of Php 1,749,042; 1,839 claims for medical services worth Php 11,539,312.84; 115 claims for funeral benefits amounting to Php 2,135,742.68; and 17 claims for rehabilitation services amounting to Php 51,196.53.

Most of the EC benefits for public sector were granted for disability benefits at 56.60% or Php 32,374,440.15 while the least is for rehabilitation services at 0.09% or Php 51,196.53.

On the other hand, the Social Security System, the administering agency for private sector employees, paid 251,739 EC claims equivalent to Php 983,983,524.00.

The SSS approved a total of 206,062 claims for death and pension benefits amounting to Php 769,727,290.00; 17,953 claims for disability benefits with the amount of Php 101,784,305.00; 25,572 claims for sickness benefit amounting to Php 88,127,429.00; 1,646 claims for medical services worth Php 20,452,020.00; 362 claims for funeral benefits amounting to Php 3,616,000.00; and 144 claims for rehabilitation services amounting to Php 276,480.00.

For the private sector, the bulk of the claims was for death and pension benefits which amounted to Php 769,727,290.00 or 78.23% and the lowest claims were for rehabilitation services amounting to Php 276,480.00 or 0.03%.

“Although there are many factors affecting the lower number of claims, it may be a result of a better campaign on work hazard prevention by DOLE in 2013,” Baldoz said.

Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis stated that the ECC continues to study and consider policies and programs that could benefit the Filipino workers by strengthening the information drive about the Employees’ Compensation Program and prevention of accidents and illnesses that may be attributed to work,” added Banawis.