Mark Anthony Balcita, a former warehouse checker in an agricultural company in Tantangan, South Cotabato, recently received benefits from the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) due to his work-connected accident.
Balcita was involved in a vehicular accident along Tantangan National Highway on May 27, 2020. He was going home from work and while driving his motorcycle, he was suddenly hit by another vehicle. As a consequence thereof, he sustained severe right leg fracture.
In 2021, Balcita filed an EC claim at the Social Security System (SSS) General Santos City branch and was granted an EC sickness benefit amounting to ₱20,750 and an EC Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) pension for 14 months.
Aside from the EC benefits he received from the SSS, Balcita also underwent four consultations and 28 physical therapy sessions at Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center, ECC’s partner hospital in Koronadal City. He was also given a total of ₱16,000 travel and meal allowance during his consultation and therapy sessions.
Due to the fracture he sustained, Balcita could no longer go back to his previous employment. Thus, using the monetary benefits granted to him by the ECC, Balcita decided to purchase a tricycle which he operates to generate income for his family.
In June 2021, Balcita received an EC cash assistance worth ₱10,000. In June 2022, he was granted an EC livelihood kit amounting to ₱20,000 which helped him start a frozen goods/meat business.
“Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa ECC sa free physical therapy sessions upang makalakad ako nang wasto, may kasama pa itong meal and travel allowance. Tumanggap din ako ng livelihood assistance na nagkakahalagang ₱20,000. Malaking tulong sa akin ang EC livelihood upang makaraos sa hirap ng buhay at sa hamon ng Covid19. Nawa’y pagpalain ng Diyos ang ECC upang marami pa silang matulungang mga manggagawa na hirap nang makapagtrabaho dulot ng aksidente sa trabaho. Hindi namin kayo makakalimutan at lubos akong nagpapasalamat. God bless & more power,” Balcita said.
The physical restoration, as one of the components of the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program, includes physical/occupational therapy and the provision of assistive devices that help facilitate the integration of persons with work-related Disability (PWRDs) into the economic mainstream through physical restoration, training for re-employment or self-entrepreneurship.
Executive Director Stella Banawis emphasized that workers who sustained injuries and become physically disabled due to accidents while going home to or from work can apply for rehabilitation services from ECC once their EC Permanent Partial or Total Disability benefit is approved by the SSS or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The Employees’ Compensation Commission is a government corporation attached to the Department of Labor and Employment for policy coordination and guidance. The ECC is mandated to provide meaningful and appropriate compensation benefits to workers and their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injury, disability, or death.
K. Daga – REU12