The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) has awarded Paola Porazo a complementary kit worth ₱10,000 on October 31, 2024. This is in addition to the ₱20,000 starter kit given to her a year before.

Porazo has been working at Optimum Global Solutions in Taguig City as a medical coder for seven (7) years while continuing her studies. Due to the nature of her work, she experienced weakness, particularly in gripping objects with both hands. She also experienced swelling, numbness, burning, and pain. She was later diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and was advised to undergo an operation.

Porazo later learned about the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) which provides compensation to workers with work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. She then filed for EC sickness claim and was granted loss of income benefits. She further applied for rehab services. ECC granted Porazo six (6) sessions of physical therapy and orthosis to help her hand.

ECC also provided Porazo ₱10,000.00 cash assistance along with livelihood assistance which is a component of Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay).

After she finished the training on “How to Start a Business and Simple Bookkeeping,” Porazo managed to own a small printing business with the help of ECC, receiving from the latter a starter kit amounting to ₱20,000.00 on July 6, 2023.

As part of the KaGabay Program, Lawrence Gipson, a social worker from ECC, visited Porazo a year later. Part of the program is to check the condition of its beneficiaries.

Since Porazo was able to sustain her printing business, she was awarded a complementary grant amounting to ₱10,000.00. For this reason, Porazo was able to purchase an additional printer for her business.

ECC’sKaGabay Program provides a range of support and rehabilitation services to PWRDs to assist not only their physical rehabilitation but also their economic recovery.

 

M. De Guzman-Chu – CO