Workers who got injured and the families of those who died during the fire incident at House Technologies Industries, Inc in General Trias, Cavite will receive immediate assistance from the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) and Social Security System (SSS) in the processing and release of their benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) after ECC released Board Resolution No. 17-02-05, (“Prescribing the Guidelines in Providing Immediate Assistance to the Victims of Fire Incident at House Technology Industries, Inc,” dated February 9, 2017).

“The ECC, through its Quick Response Program, will conduct home visits to the survivors or to the families of the victims to inform them of their benefits under the ECP,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis explained.

The ECC will also coordinate with the authorities such as, but not limited to, Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office IV-A, PEZA-Cavite, and concerned local government units for updates on names and number of injured workers/fatalities that may be issued by the said authorities. The ECC will forward the said list to the SSS Main Office, who will then disseminate the said list to all concerned SSS branches.

“The absence of signatures of the employer, non-maintenance of EC logbook, and the failure to register the concerned workers with the SSS, or the failure to remit contributions should not delay or bar the processing of application for EC benefits,” Banawis said.

However, such violations, if there are any, shall be dealt with accordingly after the benefits for the victims are already released.

She further said that in terms of EC Death Claims, the concerned SSS branch shall dispense with the submission of Certificate of Employment, EC Logbook, Job Description, Death Certificate, and Investigation or Police Report. “Instead,” she added “the SSS shall adopt the official list provided by the ECC as proof that the worker died due to the said incident.

In case of EC disability claims, the SSS shall only require the submission of Certification from the concerned authorities that the worker sustained his/her injury due to the said incident.

“The SSS will formulate the guidelines on the release of EC benefits to the injured workers or to the qualified beneficiaries of the victims,” Banawis ended.

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