Despite security concerns, the Quick Response Team of the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) Regional Extension Unit 11 reached out to the PNP victims and their families after the clash between PNP and members of the New People’s Army in Matinao, Davao del Sur on March 10, 2014. The team informed the victims that they can file their EC claims with the Government Service Insurance System.

After a month, the wounded police officers visited the ECC-REU 11 office to personally learn more about their benefits as members of ECC.

Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Chair of the Employees’ Compensation Commission directed ECC to actively inform the uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection about their coverage under the Employees’ Compensation Program despite their exclusion from the coverage of GSIS.

“These are the times when we can reciprocate the services – protection and security – that our uniformed men provide to the Filipino people. It is our turn to provide them the protection and security they need through the ECP,” Baldoz said.

ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis explained that our uniformed personnel have their own families  that depend on them, so the least we could do is give them social protection benefits like EC medical, sickness, disability, rehabilitation services, death and funeral benefits in case these uniformed personnel were killed due to work-related contingency.