Panabo City—The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), through its Regional Extension Unit No. 11 (REU-11), and the Panabo Polymedic Hospital are extending their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide rehabilitation services to persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) under the ECC’s Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program.
“The MOA paves the way for the realization of ECC’s objective of providing an easy access to rehabilitation services and facilities for persons with work-related disabilities from the province of Davao del Norte.” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said.
Under the MOA, Panabo Polymedic Hospital, Inc. will render physical restoration, rehabilitation services, or medical intervention to PWRDs referred by the ECC.
“These services are free of charge for the PWRDs,” Banawis added.
“On our end, part of our commitment is to continually improve our facilities in order to provide quality service for our patients especially for PWRDs under the coverage of ECC’S KaGabay Program” Dr. Alfonso Bitoy, Jr. stated.
Workers who were awarded disability benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program are qualified to become beneficiaries of the ECC’s KaGabay Program. Among the benefits of the program is the provision of free rehabilitation services to PWRDs by ECC’s partner hospital, including provision of rehabilitation appliances.
Melchor Tomesa, a former seafarer, who underwent a physical therapy session for his lumbar spine in Panabo Polymedic Hospital through the ECC- KaGabay Program. He emphasized the significance of ECC’s partnership with Panabo Polymedic Hospital. “The partnership spares me from the hustle and bustle of traffic in getting to the city.” Tomesa said.
“This partnership saved me from incurring big travel expenses.” Rolando Masillones, a KaGabay beneficiary who formerly worked as engineering point person of DOLE-Stanfilco stated.
Since 2015, seven PWRD- beneficiaries of the KaGabay Program have already undergone physical therapy and other medical services in Panabo Polymedic Hospital.
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With reports from Albert Bantan, ECC REU 11 Information Officer II