Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Marites Carag, a midwife for 17 years at Apayao Provincial Health Office, was granted a vulcanizing shop package amounting to PHP 20,000 from the Employees’ Compesation Commission (ECC).
The assistance provided is a part of the KaGabay Program which aims to help augment the income of employees who met a work-related contingency.
On July 8, 2016, Carag figured in a motorcycle accident while going to work. This caused fracture on her right hip. Because of her condition, Carag early retired from the government service.
Carag applied for her GSIS claims but she was given an EC disability benefit instead, amounting to Php 24,200 for 121 days of being unable to work.
“Noong natanggap ko po yung benepisyo, ako po ay natuwa dahil kahit kaunting halaga lamang po siya ay lubos na pong nakatulong para sa pambili ko ng gamot at sa mga gastusin sa bahay lalo pa’t ako lang din po kase ang inaasahan ng aking pamilya,” Carag said when she was asked about the benefit.
Meanwhile, she added that GSIS personnel also told her to visit the ECC REU2 office for additional assistance. Carag was referred to Tuguegarao Physical Rehab Center for free medical evaluation and physical therapy sessions under the ECC-Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program which costs Php7,900. Aside from that, Carag received a Php 6,000.00 transportation and meal allowance during her therapy and a pair of crutches amounting to Php 2,000.00.
Moreover, ECC instructed Carag to attend a one-day Entrepreneurial Development Training as a pre-requisite for her livelihood assistance. After three weeks, she received her vulcanizing package which consists of air compressor, tire gauge, rubber hose, tubes and tires as a starter kit.
“Maraming salamat po, noon pa man ito na yung gusto kong pangkabuhayan dahil nakikita ko na kumikita ito sa aming lugar at ngayon meron narin ako. Nakakagaan lang po ng kalooban na kahit nawalan ako ng trabaho dahil sa aking pagka-aksidente, nagkaroon naman ako ng pangkabuhayan na siyang makakatulong sa akin upang patuloy na matugunan ang aming mga pangangailangan. Salamat po sa ECC at nawa’y mas marami pa po kayong matulungang empleyadong naaksidente, nagkasakit o namatay nang dahil sa trabaho,” Carag said.
“ECC commits to ensure a well-responsive compensation package and services to persons with work-related disability (PWRD). This is our vision, to help every PWRDs obtain a stable income and uplift their economic status despite their disabilities,” said ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.
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