Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday said that workers who were injured in the fire incident in Cavite Economic Zone in Rosario, Cavite yesterday are entitled to claim corresponding benefits under the Employees Compensation Program.

Bello made the statement after a fire incident, which lasted for more than six hours, broke out in House Technologies Industries, Inc yesterday leaving 150 employees injured.

“Under Presidential Decree No. 626, or the State Insurance Fund, for the sickness and the resulting disability or death to be compensable, the injury must be the result of accident arising out of and in the course of the employment,” Bello said.

In a report to the Secretary, Employees Compensation Commission Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that the injured victims of the fire raze may claim loss of income benefits and medical reimbursements.

Under the Employees Compensation Program, a worker who is unable to work because of a work-related injury is entitled to receive temporary total disability benefit or cash benefit to compensate for the loss of income.

Under medical benefits, workers can reimburse for the cost of medicine for the illness or injury, hospital care, surgical expenses, and the costs of appliances and supplies that they availed from accredited hospitals.

Carer’s allowance is also provided to an employee who suffers permanent partial or total disability arising out of work-related injury or illness.

“Once their EC claim has been approved, they are qualified to enroll under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay),” Banawis added.

The KaGabay Program offers the following programs and services; physical restoration which refers to the provision of physical or occupational therapy services including assistive devices, such as prosthesis, hearing aid, braces, and wheelchair to name a few; skills training for re-employment so that the worker can acquire new competencies or skills subject on his potentials and residual functional capacity; and entrepreneurship training to enable the worker to set up home-based business.

Banawis added that Secretary Bello already dispatched DOLE Regional Office 4A, ECC, and Occupational Safety and Health Center to investigate the said workplace accident, account all injured employees, and provide assistance in filing for EC benefits claim.

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