The Employees’ Compensation Commission Regional Extension Unit 1 (ECC-REU 1) awarded a starter kit amounting to ‎₱20, 000.00, on May 3, 2023, to Marcelino Baraña, resident of Balaoan, La Union.

Regional Program Focal Dr. Randy Angelo Ponciano personally accompanied Baraña and his wife to purchase all items needed for his chosen rolling store business.

Baraña received the said amount as one of his EC benefits under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program.

“Maraming salamat sa lahat ng tulong ng ECC. Napakalaking tulong na ito sa aking pamilya,” Baraña said while teary eyed.

Aside from the starter kit, he also received ‎₱43,588.00 as his accrued pension for his EC Permanent Partial Disability (PPD). He also received EC monthly pension from August 2019 to July 2020. To improve his condition, Baraña underwent a series of physical therapy sessions for free provided by ECC.

These benefits were all provided to Baraña since he suffered from a work-related back injury after he slipped while on his duty as a pump tender in Philex Mining in Benguet on April 2019.

“Ang sinumang manggagawa na naaksidente nang dahil sa trabaho ay may nakalaang benepisyo sa ilalim ng EC Program. Ang tulad ng aksidente na nangyari kay Baraña ay maituturing na compensable basta walang naging kapabayaan ang isang empleyado,” ECC OIC-Executive Director Jose Maria S. Batino said.

“Kahit na may ECC, iba pa rin ang maging maingat tayo dahil ang kaligtasan at kalusugan ng ating mga manggagawa ang ating prayoridad,” Director Batino added.

 

D. Dupagan – REU 1