With the recent rise of bombing and ambush incidents involving soldiers of the Philippine Army in Region 12, particularly in the province of North Cotobato and Cotobato City, the ECC conducted an Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) awareness campaign to the members of the 27th Infantry Battalion, Phil. Army in Tupi, South Cotobato on August 16, 2013.
It was the second time that the ECC conducted the information campaign with the 27th IB. The earlier was for the soldiers assigned at Tupi South Cotobato and this second one to the soldiers of the battalion assigned in the mountainous areas of Lake Sebu, South Cotobato.
There were a total of sixty (60) soldiers present during the activity and most of them heard the ECP for the first time. The Soldiers were oriented on the ECP and the documentary requirements for the filing of an EC claim on work-related contingencies. The issue on ECP coverage for the uniformed personnel of the AFP was brought up, considering that they are no longer covered by the GSIS. They were enlightened by the ECC Information Officer, Mr. Christopher Gamboa, who discussed that although they are excluded from the coverage of Republic Act No. 8291 otherwise known as the Government Service Insurance Act of 1997, they are covered under the P.D. 626, as amended, with regard to the Employees’ Compensation Program privileges and benefits.