Tuguegarao City—“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa natatanggap kong mga benepisyo sa ECC. Sobra-sobra na po ang naitulong nila sa akin,” said Leon Villaspin.
Villaspin was working as a lineman for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines when he met an accident on the way to work on April 12, 2018. It has caused him severe right leg fracture and damaged tendons and ligaments. He was scheduled for leg amputation. But he was not ready for it, mentally and financially.
Though he received benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), he said, it still was not enough to cover the medical expenses needed for the additional medical procedures. Thus, Villaspin needed additional help.
According to him, he filed for EC claim at the SSS and was paid with Php 47, 240 for his Temporary Total Disability (TTD). Meantime, he just wanted to go on medication until the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) learned of his case.
The ECC, thru the Regional Office Unit in Region III, immediately reached out to him and facilitated the benefits and services that he could avail under the EC Program.
He was sent by ECC to Tuguegarao Physical Rehabilitation Center, a partner center where he underwent a series of medical examinations for a second opinion. He was again diagnosed with the same result. He immediately underwent physical therapy sessions worth Php 27, 652 plus Php 12,500 payment for his meal and transportation allowance under the EC Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program. A pair of crutches worth Php 2, 000 was also given by ECC.
After completing the therapy, Villaspin said that his leg had recovered enough to discontinue the amputation. “‘Yong pagkasalba po ng paa ko mula sa pagkaputol ay napakalaking bagay na po para sa akin at sa aking pamilya,” said teary-eyed Villaspin.
And to help him be economically stable, ECC awarded him with five (5) piglets amounting to Php 20,000 as part of ECC Livelihood Assistance on September 20, 2019.
ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said, “We are happy to know that Mr. Villaspin appreciates our efforts in assisting, providing and transforming his life with all the benefits and services under the EC Program.”
Reporting by Remedios V. Andrada, Information Officer II, REU-II ; Editing by Carlo Katigbak