Davao City – The Employees’ Compensation Commission, together with the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) Region XI, organized an Entrepreneurial Development Training and Financial Awareness Seminar on 3-4 July 2019 at the Activity Center, DOLE XI for Fifteen (15) Persons with Work-related Disabilities (PWRDs) in the region.

The ECC beneficiaries, who were victims of different accidents in their workplaces, underwent the two-day training in preparation for the initial Php 20,000 livelihood grant available for every PWRDs under the EC Program. This was on top of the approximately Php 600,000 which the ECC has previously disbursed for their sickness or disability benefits.

Rea Sa-an, Labor and Employment Officer III of NCRO XI, shared to the PWRDs the basic characteristics of an entrepreneur as well as the fundamental elements of starting up a business, its different risks and rewards. “The end goal of my lecture is to inculcate to the EC beneficiaries the proper method on how to make business plans as well as examples of the different viable businesses to help the PWRDs in choosing a business befitting their capacity, interest and skills,” Sa-an remarked.

ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that “the objective of this activity is to ensure sustainability of the livelihood programs granted to the PWRDs by apprising them on the proper management of their would-be home-based business.”

During the course of the training, a workshop in making a business plan was also undertaken to equip the participants with sufficient knowledge as to the preparatory aspect of the business enterprise. Further, a lecture on Financial Literacy like preparation of financial statements and family budgeting was also given with the aim to intensify the awareness of the participants regarding financial management.

“Napakalaking tulong po sa amin itong ibinigay na training dahil ito ay magagamit hindi lamang sa negosyong ipagkakaloob sa amin ng ECC kundi pati rin sa pang araw-araw na pamumuhay namin,” a PWRD commented after the event.

The training has been an integral part of the livelihood grants under the Employees’ Compensation Program. This primarily seeks to forge financial adeptness among the EC beneficiaries so that the livelihood grants may bring forth meaningful impact on their lives.