Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis yesterday said that the Commission is already coordinating with the Government Service Insurance System to facilitate the speedy processing of employee compensation (EC) benefits due to the families of the members of the PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who died during the recent clash against members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last 25 January 2015.
“We are arranging for a speedy processing of the EC benefits of the PNP-SAF personnel with the minimum documentary requirements. It is also good that the GSIS is open to it and is gladly helping us,” Banawis said.
Under the EC Program, the dependents of the Maguindanao clash casualties are entitled to death benefits and funeral benefits of P20,000.
Those who are injured are entitled to a loss of income benefit, a cash benefit to compensate for lost of income due to inability to work. They are also entitled to reimburse for the cost of medicine for the illness or injury; payment to providers of medical care; hospital care; surgical expenses; and the costs of rehabilitation appliances.
Those who will suffer permanent total disability arising from the injury they obtained from the clash can also receive carer’s allowance.
Banawis also directed the immediate implementation of the ECC’s Quick Response Team (ECC-QRT).
“The QRT will provide immediate help to the families in the form of psycho-social counseling and assistance, and in the filing of EC claim with the GSIS,” she added.
The ECC Chief also said that she ordered the Quick Response Teams in different regional extension units of the Commission to visit the families of the victims in their respective areas, the soonest possible time.
“We know that these benefits cannot bring back what was lost but, somehow, we want to ease the burden of the families of our uniformed personnel who perished in this unfortunate event,” Banawis said.