The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) is set to expound on the increase of the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) benefits during its Advocacy Seminar on 5 July 2018 at the Best Western Plus Hotel  in  Subic Bay Freeport.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 54 on May 8, 2018 increasing the Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Permanent Partial Disability (PPD), Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits, carer’s allowance and reimbursement rates for professional fees of physicians and physical therapy sessions of persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs).

ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that, “One of ECC’s challenges that we are addressing is the need to enhance benefits under the ECP. We have noticed that the benefits provided are no longer responsive to the needs of our persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs), thus, making enhancement of benefits one of our top priorities.”

“The increase was based on the actuarial study conducted by the SSS and GSIS, ECC’s administering agencies. Based on the study, the State Insurance Fund (SIF) can finance the increases without affecting the stability of the SIF and without requiring additional contributions. The SIF is sourced from the contributions paid by the government and private employers to finance the services and programs of ECC for Filipino workers who suffer from work related sickness, injury or death. The fund life of the SIF in the private sector is beyond 2080, while that in the public sector is 2067 even with the increased benefits,” said ECC executive Director Stella Z. Banawis.

The one-day EC Program Advocacy Seminar is free of charge which will be attended by more than 120 human resource officers, employers and labor union representatives. The participants will come from different private establishments and government agencies including uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police  in nearby areas in Olongapo City, Zambales.

The Employees’ Compensation Program is designed to provide workers and their dependents with income benefits, medical, and other benefits in the event of work-related sickness, injury or death.