The Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sponsored forty-eight (48) children of PWRDs (Persons with Work-related Disabilities) for a 35-day Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) from April 11 to May 27, 2016.

SPES is mandated under Republic Act No. 9547 and aims to develop the intellectual capacities of children of poor families and harness their potential.

Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that “ECC has been sponsoring this program for several years already, anchored to support the families of EC beneficiaries in augmenting their income to support the education of their children through employment during summer breaks”.

Banawis said, “The Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) does not only provide assistance to the beneficiaries but also extends it to the members of their immediate families”.

“I’ve been part of this SPES program under ECC for 4 years already, and through this, together with my sibling, we are able to earn income to help our parents for our tuition fee for the coming semester,” SPES – grantee Hannah Grace Balcena said.

SPES-grantee assigned at the Work Contingency Prevention and Rehabilitation Division (WCPRD), Kurt Russel Idos, intimated that “it was a good experience to be involved and exposed in the SPES program. I learned a lot like interacting and building relationships with my co-SPES and with ECC employees.”

“I am expressing my gratitude to ECC for giving me the opportunity to join the SPES program. Through this, I was able to apply my knowledge in photoshop by editing and creating info graphics.” Information and Public Assistance Division SPES- Reymond Gangoso said.

Another SPES grantee, Andrea Gaela, also expressed her gratitude to ECC for the opportunity given to her to be a part of the SPES program. She is most thankful to ECC for continuously providing physical therapy for her father “Salamat sa ECC, first time ko sa SPES program, pero mas nagpapasalamat ako dahil napakalaking tulong talaga sa father ko yung physical therapy sessions para gumaling at bumalik na siya sa dati,” Gaela said.

Banawis emphasized that “helping and assisting the families of the EC beneficiaries to augment their income would result to attaining decent life which is the primary goal of ECC for PWRDs”.

End/ with reports from Ruby Ann Fajardo, Information Officer II