A 50 year-old sales clerk of an upholstery supplier in Iloilo City received an  Employees’ Compensation benefit amounting to Php 33,675.85, as her permanent partial disability pension for five (5) months due to her amputated left-thumb.

On September 26, 2015, the sales clerk was on her desk organizing some receipts when a customer approached her for assistance to put a ring hole in a tarpaulin bought in their store. While operating the machine, she was caught off balance which unintentionally placed her left thumb in the ring blade, cutting her left thumb instantly.

For a mother of two children, she felt devastated as she can no longer do simple chores.

In February 2016, the Employees’ Compensation Commission’s Regional Officer paid her a visit and explained to her the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan or the KaGabay Program.

Surprised that she is entitled to the ECC KaGabay Program benefits, she expressed her interest to avail the free physical therapy sessions in St. Pauls’ Hospital in Iloilo and a livelihood training to help her start a small business while she is working. Fortunately for her, she was reemployed in her company and   simultaneously enjoying the benefits under the EC Program.

“We assure the provision of benefits for persons with work-related disabilities  under the EC Program. The rehabilitation benefits and services through the ECC’s KaGabay Program is an automatic added privileges for our PWRDs so that they will achieve a decent life and become productive members of our society.” said Executive Director Stella Z. Banawis.

The ECP is a government program that provides a package of benefits for private and public workers in the event of work-related sickness, injury or death.