Davao City – In Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) pursuit to restore disabled workers to their full economic potentials, twelve persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) recently underwent Entrepreneurial Development Training and Financial Awareness Seminar at ECC Davao Office.

Arvin Mejica, Ernesto Canonoy, Jay Marlo Villanueva, Jelly Colandog, Emnacir Baldoza, Exequiel Eneco, Teofilo Tumarong, Louie Uyanguren, Felisard Serondo, Angelito Galleto, Marco Ronaldo Millares, and Arnel Belandres suffered physical disabilities due to mishaps at work. For this reason, the said PWRDs were granted benefits and services under the ECC’s Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program.

“Needless to say, we are no longer the same after we encountered accident at work. Our earning capacity has been adversely affected by it. Thankfully, ECC has presented us hope to regain our economic viability through the KaGabay Program,” Millares, Legal Assistant II at the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao, said when asked about the significance of the KaGabay Program.

Rigid theoretical and practical business exercises were set forth in the two-day training so as to equip PWRDs with appropriate business judgment which is the key to sustainability of the livelihood grant. “Our training course was tailored fit for the current situation of the trainees and we are governed by the ultimate goal of sustainability for their supposed livelihood package,” Rea Saan, Labor & Employment Officer III of the Department of Migrant Workers, said as she facilitated the entire activity.

KaGabay Program is an accessory benefit given to workers whose EC claims instituted through SSS or GSIS have been approved. It seeks to optimize the overall impact of EC benefits in the lives of PWRDs.

ECC Executive Director Kaima Via B. Velasquez constantly reminds the working public that despite the availability of many benefits under the EC Program, safety, health and well-being of the workers must always be accorded primordial consideration.

 

A. Bantan – REU 11