“The ECC has always been active in providing help to workers who met work-related contingencies and we are happy to be their partner here in Region 7 in implementing the EC Program,” said DOLE Assistant Regional Director Roy Buenafe after giving the below-the-knee prosthesis to Enrique L. Papas, a person with work-related disability (PWRD) in Cebu City.

Papas was a 42 year old millwright welder at Taiheiyo Philippines Inc. when he met a work-related contingency.

At around 8pm of February 18, 2017, while Papas was aboard a truck with a mechanical puller that weighted approximately 200 kilos that they picked from the shipyard, the driver suddenly hit  the brakes hardly which caused the mechanical puller to move, thus, hitting Papas.

He was rushed to the nearest hospital and was immediately operated with a stainless implant on his right leg.  Unfortunately on the next day, it was amputated because of severe arterial damage.

Papas filed for his EC benefits and was referred to the ECC Regional Extension Unit in Cebu for rehabilitation assistance. Under the ECC’s Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program, he underwent 10 free physical therapy sessions and a free consultation. He was consequently given transportation allowance amounting to P5,500.00 on top of the disability benefits he received.

The prosthesis granted to him amounted to P155,000.00. Papas will also undergo entrepreneurship training for his chosen livelihood business.

“It is overwhelming to know that the ECC doesn’t just provide monetary assistance to their claimants. Their goal to fully rehabilitate and bring back our PWRDs in the economic mainstream is awe-inspiring,” Buenafe added.

 

Want to know more about the Employees’ Compensation Program? Email ECC at [email protected] or call 899-4251 local 227 for free on-site seminars.

 

End./Ingrid Yumang