The Employees Compensation Commission thru its Regional Extension Unit 7 recently awarded a livelihood starter kit amounting to P20,000.00 in the form of school supplies and cellular mobile phone accessories to Jussel Kim Fortunado, a truck driver in Cebu who met a work-related accident.

On January 26, 2015, while driving the truck in Lutopan, Cebu to deliver company goods, Fortunado noticed that the break was not functioning which caused him to bump into a small house.

Because of the accident, his left hand was amputated. Upon recovery, he filed for his SSS and EC benefits. The SSS granted him EC Permanent Partial Disability benefits amounting to P167,750.00.

Due to lack of financial means, Fortunado made his own prosthesis out of a bamboo then later replaced it to a PVC pipe.

In 2018, Fortunado was enrolled under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program of ECC where he was provided with a free below elbow prosthesis amounting to P125,000.00.

“It is heartwarming to know that we are able to help Jussel Fortunado, a person with work-related disability (PWRD). True to our commitment, the ECC ensures the provision of a holistic compensation package for PWRDs who suffered from work-related contingencies,” said ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.

According to Banawis, the ultimate goal of the ECC it to help PWRDs go back in the economic mainstream and become productive citizens again.

End./Ingrid Yumang