Tacloban City – As of November 2021, the Employees’ Compensation Commission Regional Extension Unit Eight (ECC REU 8) has released a total of Two million and Seventy thousand pesos (₱2,070,000.00) covering the cash assistance benefits of Two hundred Seven (207) workers who suffered from work-connected covid19 from the different provinces of Eastern Visayas. Of this number, One hundred Fifty-Eight (158) came from the government sector and Forty-Nine (49) workers were from the private sector.

Under the covid19 cash assistance program, a worker who suffered from work-related covid19 may avail of the additional cash assistance amounting to Ten thousand pesos (₱10,000.00). Fifteen thousand pesos (₱15,000.00) will be granted to the qualified beneficiaries  in case of work-related death due to covid19.

With the hope of augmenting the financial needs of those workers who suffered from covid19 by reason of their work or their working environment, ECC has instituted several landmark programs and policies to meet this end.

In 2020, ECC has approved Board Resolution No. 20-03-07 expediting the processing of EC claims of workers for diseases acquired in line of duty during outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics. In April, 2021, the Commission issued Board Resolution No. 21-04-14 including covid19 in the List of Occupational and Work-Related Diseases.

Further, ECC has developed the ECC Cash Assistance Digital System (ECCADS) which allows workers who have approved EC Claims, either from the Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), to apply online on the cash assistance program in the ECC. Through this mechanism, workers can now upload their applications for cash assistance through ECCADS and monitor the progress of their cash assistance applications through their control numbers which will be provided upon completion of their ECCADS applications.

 

M. Basal – REU8