“Noong nagkamalay ako, naiyak po ako dahil sa nangyari pero sa kabila nito, masaya pa rin ako dahil sa binigyan pa ako ng pangalawang buhay,” said Larry Pascua of Banbanaal, Banayoyo, Ilocos Sur while sharing his experience to the Employees’ Compensation Commission-Regional Extension Unit 1 staff, after he met a work-related accident.
Pascua, 36 year-old helper of the Glassbuilt Enterprises in Candon City, Ilocos Sur reminisced the days when he almost lost his hope.
Based on the police blotter of the San Esteban Municipal Police Station, Pascua was unloading some glassware on December 6, 2017 when an elf truck bumped his service vehicle that hit him which resulted to head injury. He was rushed to the Central Ilocos Sur District Hospital for medical attention.
On February 26, 2018, Pascua filed his EC claim at the SSS-Candon Branch. Upon evaluation, he was granted EC Temporary Total Disability benefits amounting to P42,000.00.
As a way of helping him further, the ECC Regional Extension Unit No. 1 enrolled Pascua to the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program of ECC.
Pascua signified his intention to set up a cellphone loading station in their area to augment his family needs since he lost his job after the accident.
“Masaya ako sapagkat may ECC na handang tumulong sa mga kagaya ko na makabangon ulit. Sa tulong ng ECC makakatulong pa rin ako sa asawa ko sa mga araw-araw na gastusin dahil hindi na ako nakabalik sa trabaho base na rin sa payo ng aking doktor,” Pascua said.
Persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) with an approved EC claim are qualified to avail of the entrepreneurship or skills training under the KaGabay Program of ECC. All these benefits and services are provided for free.
The injury sustained by reason of employment is compensable regardless of the place where the incident occurred, if it can be proven that, at the time of the contingency, the employee is acting within the scope of his employment and performing an act reasonably necessary or incidental to it.
Injuries resulting from any of the following shall also be compensable: when it happened at the workplace; while performing official functions; outside of the workplace, but performing an order/instruction of the employer; when going to or coming from the place of work; while ministering to personal comfort; while in a company shuttle bus; or during a company-sponsored activity.
End./Dexter Dupagan