With its intensified information campaign, the Employees’ Compensation Commission Regional Extension Unit Eight (ECC-REU 8) has continuously worked with the Occupational Safety and Health Center and its accredited safety training organizations in an effort to boost and promote the widespread information regarding the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program.

From January to June 2021, the ECC REU8, currently stationed in Tacloban City, has been able to orient around six hundred thirty nine (639) participants of several Basic Occupational Safety and Health Trainings for Safety Officers I and II on the EC Program.

The Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training is one of the requirements to become a safety officer in the private sector and generally includes the module on the EC Program.

Participants of these certification trainings are poised to become safety officers in their establishments upon completion of the required number of hours of training and after passing the final examination.

During the trainings, Michelle C. Basal, Information Officer II of ECC REU8, emphasized the new policies issued by the ECC in relation to the Commission’s response on COVID-19. In 2021 alone, ECC has approved several resolutions addressing the growing concerns of Persons with Work-Related Disabilities (PWRDs).

Among these resolutions are providing the conditions of compensability of COVID-19 under the ECC List of Occupational and Work-Related Diseases through Board Resolution No. 21-04-14, the granting of compensation for death and disability due to inoculation under ECC Board Resolution No. 21-03-08 and determining the compensability of injuries for accidents occurring while the worker is on a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement under Board Resolution No. 21-03-09, in adherence to Telecommuting Act of 2018 and pertinent CSC Circulars on WFH arrangement in the public sector.

“The Employees’ Compensation Commission, including its Regional Extension Unit Officers have been working tirelessly in informing the general masses of the benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program. Despite the restrictions we are currently facing, these have not stopped us in pursuing our mandate under Presidential Decree 626,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said. “On top of the safety and health trainings, our staff are also actively conducting webinars. We understand that as we continue to cope with the effects of COVID-19, we have to expand awareness on the EC Program.”

 

M.Basal – REU8