ECC assists victims and families of Astorga road mishap
The Employees’ Compensation Commission Regional Extension Unit 11, along with the Sta. Cruz local government unit’s social welfare representatives, recently conducted a Quick Response Program (QRP) assistance to the families of the victims and survivors of the road accident involving 17 employees of the Franklin Baker, a coconut desiccating and processing plant in Davao del Sur.
The vehicular accident happened on June 3, 2018 at Barangay Astorga, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and involved a ten-wheeler truck and the Franklin Baker service truck. Fourteen workers of the Franklin Baker died in the accident.
Pursuant to the continuous endeavor of the ECC to lighten up the grief of the bereaved families over the loss of their loved ones, the Commission granted tokens in the form of grocery items as expression of its sympathy. The families were also apprised of their benefits as beneficiaries under the Employees Compensation Program (ECP).
ECC REU XI Regional Officer Franschelline Orvette D. Loayon emphasized that the beneficiaries are entitled to P30,000 funeral benefits and a monthly EC survivorship pension since the death of their loved ones was work-connected.
ECC Executive Director Stella Z. Banawis emphasized the ECC’s long standing call to the public to give paramount importance on health and safety to avoid untoward incidents.
“Eventhough there is ECP, our safety must still be our topmost priority. We don’t want incidents like this to happen to our workers again,” Banawis added.
“We are thankful for the assistance provided by the ECC. We hope they continue to extend their helping hands to all the victims as we want to continue living a normal life despite the disability we obtained”, said Vengie Lumanta, one of the survivors of the Franklin Baker.
ECC regional officers instructed the management of Dames and A&R Agency, manpower agencies of the victims, on how to assist the families and the victims of the said incident in the filing of their EC claims.
Want to know more about the Employees’ Compensation Program? Email ECC at [email protected] or call 899-4251 local 227 for free on-site seminars.
End./Albert Bantan