PWRD says ECC gives more than just workers’ compensation:ECC gives hope
An accident while working left Alfredo Talosig’s legs useless and left his family with a tremendous financial burden.
On February 24, 2013, Talosig accidentally crashed the trailer truck into a concrete lightpost while he was driving along the national highway of Aurora, Isabela when he lost control of the steering wheel due to a slippery road caused by heavy rainfall.
Talosig was diagnosed with spinal cord disease or the Caudia Equina Syndrome which made him unable to walk.
Talosig was granted P2,000 permanent partial disability pension and P575 carer’s allowance for eight months which amounted to P20,600 from the Employees’ Compensation Program.
Talosig further received from the ECC-KaGabay Program free ten sessions of physical therapy worth P6,400 and splint for both his legs in the amount of P17,920. He recently completed Bread and Pastry Production Skills Training sponsored by KaGabay Program.
Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis expressed that the ECC believes that providing compensation to persons with work-related disabilities is not enough to help them recover from financial strains brought by work-related contingencies. PWRDs not only lost their jobs but they also lost their confidence because of the work-related disabilities they acquired. Hence, the ECC has the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program.
“The KaGabay Program aims to bring back PWRDs to the economic mainstream as competent members of the society. This program provides free rehabilitation services and appliance to PWRDs. It also gives free re-skilling training or entrepreneurship seminars to PWRDs to help them restore their lives,” Banawis explained.
With all these benefits, Talosig expressed his gratitude to the ECC for the second chance given to him, “I did not expect that I will receive this much from the ECC. All of this is overwhelming. The ankle-foot orthosis is an early Christmas gift to me. Thank you is not enough to express my gratitude to you,” Talosig continues “Taos puso ang aking pasasalamat sa ECC, sa pagbigay nila ng pag-asa at pagtulong upang magkaroon ng bagong buhay ang mga PWRD na katulad ko.”
Banawis, however, encourages employers and employees to practice good occupational safety and health by complying with OSH standards to ensure a healthy and safe work environment for employees. On the other hand, employees should also take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
“I would like to emphasize that prevention is better than compensation and rehabilitation. The ECC provides benefits for work-related incidents but good practices in OSH provide a better and healthier community,” explained Banawis.
ECC grants KaGabay benefits to PWRDs in Tuguegarao
The Employees’ Compensation Commission recently granted benefits under its Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program to persons with work related disability (PWRD) in Tuguegarao City.
Leones Plaridel and Alfredo Talosig both figured in an accident while working. Plaridel’s feet were struck by a jackhammer while unloading it from a truck. He suffered serious damage in his right ankle and his leg underwent a surgical operation.
On the other hand, Talosig met a vehicular accident while driving a truck loaded with grains and corn. He lost control over the steering wheel due to the slippery road. The truck hit a concrete lightpost and fell on a cornfield. He sustained a spinal injury.
The ECC-Quick Response Team of Regional Extension Unit 2 visited Plaridel and Talosig and assisted them on claiming their Employees’ Compensation Program benefits.
Talosig and Leones both received P2,000 permanent partial disability pension and P575 carer’s allowance for eight months amounting to P20,600. Aside from the monthly pension they receive from the ECC, they were also given free ten physical therapy sessions worth P6,400, meal and transportation allowance for rehabilitation amounting to P1238.10 and P1226.19, respectively, prosthesis worth P17,920for Talosig and Bread and Pastry Production trainingworth P2,495 sponsored by the ECC-KaGabay Program.
As part of the benefits of the KaGabay, PWRDs who availed training skills and rehabilitation services were also granted meal and transportation allowance to ensure that they will not miss any of their classes or sessions.
With all these benefits, Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis, however, encourages employers and employees to practice good occupational safety and health by complying with OSH standards to ensure a healthy and safe work environment for employees. On the other hand, employees should also take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
“I would like to emphasize that prevention is better than compensation and rehabilitation. The ECC provides benefits for work-related incidents but good practices in OSH provide a better and healthier community,” explained Banawis.
Chemical explosion victim from Bukidnon starts new livelihood pursuit with the help of ECC’s KaGabay Program
Cristy Briones, a microbiologist from a bottling corporation in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, was only three months in her job when a chemical explosion occurred on 29 July 2013 in the company’s laboratory where she sustained third degree burns in her right arm, abdomen, chest, and thigh. Since the injuries took months to heal, the company hired another employee to fill her position.
The incident left Briones with a big scar and keloids which she cannot afford to get treated. As the breadwinner of her family, she was pressured to find another job which proved to be difficult because of her physical condition.
Meanwhile, a personnel from her manpower agency, Northpoint Agency, advised her to seek help from the Employees’ Compensation Commission-Regional Extension Unit 10 (ECC-REU 10), after attending a lecture on the Employees’ Compensation Program.
In December 2013, she received her EC sickness benefit worth P8,899.00.
As her EC claim was approved, she became a qualified beneficiary of ECC’s Katulong at Gabay ng Manggagawang May Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program.
As part of her EC KaGabay benefits, Briones and her father undertook a Swine Raising Training at Manresa, Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro in November 2014.
After completing the course, they received a starter kit from the KaGabay Program which included two piglets and feeds amounting to P8,625.00.
In less than a year, the two piglets they received from the ECC grew and bore 7 piglets.
Through the KaGabay Program, qualified workers with work-connected disabilities are evaluated and referred to various institutions for appropriate rehabilitation services, which include physical restoration or the provision of physical and occupational therapy, prosthesis, and assistive devices, and livelihood or vocational training to help persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) achieve functional independence and become economically productive as they enter the mainstream.