“Nagapasalamat ko sa cash assistance ug sa rehabilitation service gikan sa ECC labi na sa tabang nga nasumpayan ang akong tiil (nagpapasalamat ako sa cash assistance at rehabilitation service galing sa ECC lalo na sa tulong na nadugtungan ang aking paa),” said Bernie Abarsolo, a former construction worker who met a work-related accident in Davao City.
On February 5, 2025, the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) awarded four persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) a total of P190,000 of prostheses at the ECC-Regional Extension Unit (REU) 12 office in General Santos City.
Bernie Abarsolo experienced a right knee amputation due to an onsite accident and received a below-knee prosthesis that cost P65,000. Jungie Causing, a former soldier who suffered a right leg amputation following an explosion, received an above-knee prosthesis valued at P75,000. Vilma Morillo, a harvester who had her right ring finger amputated due to a degloving injury at work, was provided with a cosmetic silicone finger worth P25,000. Similarly, Razul Piang, a butcher who lost his left ring finger in a machine accident, also received a cosmetic silicone finger, costing P25,000.
This effort was made possible by the services provided under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program, which facilitates the integration of PWRDs into the economic mainstream through physical restoration, training for re-employment or self-entrepreneurship.
“ECC, through the KaGabay Program, remains committed to its mandate of helping beneficiaries recover from work-related contingencies. The program provides assistive devices and prostheses to our PWRDs, enabling them to regain not only their physical well-being but also their ability to contribute to the country’s economic growth and sustainability,” said Executive Director Atty. Kaima Via B. Velasquez.
The Employees’ Compensation Commission is a government corporation attached to the Department of Labor and Employment for policy formulation and program coordination. ECC is mandated to provide meaningful and appropriate compensation benefits to workers and their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injury, disability or death.
K. Daga – REU 12