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.
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