Employees who were injured or died in the fire incident that destroyed a factory in Valenzuela yesterday are entitled to claim corresponding benefits under the Employees Compensation Program.

Baldoz made the statement after a fire incident, which lasted for four and a half hours, broke out in Kentex Manufacturing Corporation in Valenzuela City yesterday leaving 72 employees dead and 30 missing.

Employees Compensation Commission Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that the injured victims of the fire raze may claim loss of income benefits and medical reimbursements and the families of those who died during the incident may claim funeral and death benefits.

Under the Employees Compensation Program, a worker who was unable to work because of a work-related injury is entitled to receive cash benefit to compensate for the lost of income.

Under medical benefits, workers can reimburse for the cost of medicine for the illness or injury; payment to providers of medical care; hospital care; surgical expenses; and the costs of appliances and supplies that they availed from accredited hospitals.

Carer’s allowance is also provided to an employee who suffers permanent partial or total disability arising out of work-related injury or illness, the extent of which is such that he could not attend to his basic personal needs on his own.

“Once their EC claim has been approved, they are now qualified to enroll under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay),” Banawis added.

The KaGabay Program offers the following programs and services; physical restoration which refers to the provision of physical or occupational therapy services including assistive devices, such as prosthesis, hearing aid, braces, and wheelchair to name a few; skills training for re-employment so that the worker can acquire new competencies or skills but subject on his potentials and residual functional capacity; and entrepreneurship training to enable the worker to set up home-based business.

“The families of those who died as a result of the said fire incident are entitled to receive funeral benefits worth P20,000 and death benefits, in the form of monthly pension. This is granted to the surviving spouse and a maximum of five dependent children of the said worker,” Banawis said.

Banawis also added that once all missing employees are accounted for, the ECC Quick Response Team (QRT) will be dispatched to provide psychosocial counseling to their families.

“The QRT will also assist and guide the worker-victims and their families in the processing of their EC claim,” Banawis said.

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