CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – “Dako kaayo akong pasalamat sa Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC). Tungod sa ilang livelihood program, dako kaayo ni nga tabang sa akong pamilya labi na sa panahon karon sa pandemya. Ug paningkamutan ko kini nga mulambo para sa kaugmaon sa akong pamilya (A big thank you to ECC because their livelihood program will help me and my family get through our needs especially during this pandemic. I will make sure that I will sustain and make it successful for my family’s future),” Juan Garay said when he received his livelihood starter kit under the EC Program.
Garay was a former employee of Dwightsteel Building Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pre-painted roofing and galvanized steel products in the country. In September 2018, when Garay was on duty, he climbed their client barangay gym’s trusses to measure how many colored roofing was needed for the area. Unfortunately, he was electrocuted and fell on the ground. He sustained fractured leg and ribs and it took almost two years for him to recover.
In 2019, Garay was granted EC sickness benefits by the Social Security System (SSS) Cagayan de Oro branch. He also filed for the EC cash assistance at the ECC-REU 10 and received an additional ₱10,000.00 in March 2020.
Having no permanent employment due to his injuries, Garay grabbed the opportunity to avail the livelihood program of ECC under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program. He underwent a livelihood seminar in March 2021 which was conducted by ECC Northern Mindanao and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – X (RTWPB-X). On September 7, 2021, Garay was awarded sacks of rice worth ₱20,000.00 for his rice retailing business. After a month, the items were sold out and Garay purchased additional stocks for his growing business.
Once Garay successfully sustained the livelihood awarded by ECC within three months, the PWRD will be granted an additional ₱10,000.00 worth of complimentary kit by the ECC under its KaGabay Program.
S. Obice – REU10