Davao City – The Employees’ Compensation Commission, through its Regional Extension Unit No. 11 (ECC-REU No. 11), granted a person with work-related disability (PWRD) with a P20,000-worth of starter kit for his Piso Wifi Vendo business, in accordance with the ECC’s mandate to restore the economic productivity of every worker who becomes occupationally disabled after falling victims of work-related contingencies.

The beneficiary, a former account specialist, figured in a vehicular accident on January 8, 2015 while conducting a site visit at Digos City. The said accident resulted in a severe nerve injury affecting his arm.

Before becoming a livelihood beneficiary, he already received sickness and partial disability benefits from the Employees’ Compensation Program. Aside from this, he also availed of the free physical therapy and livelihood training under the ECC’s Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang May Kapansanan, or the KaGabay Program.

“The EC Program has been so instrumental to my recovery, both physically and economically after the accident,” the beneficiary said during the grant of the starter kits. He added that the grant would help him make ends meet for his family especially that his children are studying.

Meanwhile, a janitor who got injured in a road accident on 21 June 2018 while on his way to work, received a starter kit amounting to P20,000 from the Employees’ Compensation Commission, through its Regional Extension Unit No. 11 (ECC-REU 11) for his air-con repair shop business on 29 April 2019.

The accident rendered the former janitor unable to work for almost five months as he suffered from a fractured leg.

Before granting him the starter kit, the PWRD underwent physical therapy sessions at the Mindanao Orthopedic Sports and Rehabilitation Center, Inc., as part of his package of benefits under the EC Program. Moreover, he also received cash assistance amounting to P10, 000, an EC disability benefit, and a livelihood training, all of which are his benefits from the EC Program.

During the awarding, the PWRD said that the livelihood package he received from the EC Program will help augment his monthly income as an employee.

A number of PWRDs have already received livelihood assistance from the ECC-KaGabay Program to enable them to sustain their families’ needs despite of their inability to go back to work.

Under the ECC’s Kagabay program, a PWRD may establish a business of his or her choice so he or she can continuously sustain his or her family’s needs despite the possible loss of his job, as a result of his work-related disability.

“Aside from advancing the safety of all workers, it has been the ECC’s mission to help PWRDs rise anew after figuring in a work-related contingency.” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said.

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Albert Bantan, Information Officer II, REU-11