Elizabeth Magat was a sewer in a garments manufacturing for 8 years when she had to resign from work due to occupational asthma and pneumonia tuberculosis. She had no choice as her health was worsening.

The Employees’ Compensation Commission invited her to undergo free entrepreneurial seminars, start-your-own-business-and-enterprise seminar.

Through this seminar, she learned the basic details on how to start a business. She was able to launch her dream business – catering.

“ECC gave me the biggest opportunity in my life. I never knew I will be able to put up my dream business. From being a sewer, I can proudly say that I am now an entrepreneur. All of this is through the help of the ECC,” Magat mused.

Magat explained that this business covers her family’s daily expenses and gives them a better quality of life compared before when she was still a sewer. Currently, her business clients include banks and government agencies.

ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said the persons with work-related disabilities like Magat are the inspiration of ECC to continuously enhance its programs and projects for the Filipino workforce.

ECC Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan Program is a special economic assistance program for persons with work-related disability who lost employment by reason of work-related sickness or injury. It provides PWRDs equal access to livelihood opportunities and assists them in setting up their own micro-enterprises or home-based businesses.