The Employees’ Compensation Commission has joined the two-day 16th National Occupational Safety and Health Congress held at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City last November 20-21, 2018 with the theme “Be an OSH Champion: Vision 1 Million.”

“The theme of this year’s congress, Be an OSH Champion: Vision 1 Million is truly notable as it enjoins the public to advocate work safety and health in the country. It is truly an effective way of building a culture of safety’ making each Filipino consciously-aware of the importance of practicing OSH and encouraging others to do the same,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said.

“The event is a perfect venue for safety practitioners to share their OSH best practices which establishments can adopt to facilitate their compliance to the OSH Standards and the recently signed RA 11058 or “An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof,” she added.

Dir. Banawis served as the moderator during the Plenary 1 on day-one entitled “Shaping Occupational Safety and Health Conversation and Solutions.

On day-two, Dr. Raymond C. Banaga of the ECC’s WCPR Division served as one of the resource speakers. He discussed “The Current Situation on Job Retention and Return-to-Work of Person with Work-Related Disabilities in the Philippines.”

ECC was also among the exhibitors in the event where information, education and communication materials were distributed to more than 1,700 participants. Queries on the EC program as well as request for ECP orientation were also made to the ECC staff manning the ECC infobooth.

The Congress highlighted on strategies that OSH experts in various industries employ to combat work-related accidents and illnesses, establish the OSH culture in their respective workplace, and encourage more individuals to become OSH champion.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III and Sen. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva graced the said event. End/Dexter Dupagan