At least 12,000 employees’ compensation (EC) pensioners in the public sector will receive the one-
time financial assistance of Php 20,000 from the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) starting this June 2021.
The ECC is allotting more than Php 252 million to the one-time financial assistance entitled to all active EC pensioners in the public sector with at least one month permanent partial disability (PPD), permanent total disability (PTD), or survivorship pension anytime during the prescribed period of January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. This is in compliance with Administrative Order No. 39, series of 2021, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last April 19 which authorized the granting of a one-time financial assistance of Php 20,000 to EC pensioners.
According to ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis, qualified EC pensioners in the public sector will no longer need to apply for the financial assistance. The
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the administering agency of the ECC in the public sector, will process it in the same manner as the processing of pensions.
“Our EC pensioners have suffered from work-related permanent partial or total disability and the CoViD-19 pandemic has added to their burden as they face undue financial hardships. The same can be said to the survivors of those who died due to work-related contingencies. The one-time financial assistance is the Commission’s support to our EC pensioners in the public sector during this pandemic,” Director Banawis said.
The Php 20,000 financial assistance will be granted to the EC pensioner on a one- time basis regardless of the number or type of his or her approved EC PPD, PTD, or survivorship pension. In case of death of the EC pensioner during the prescribed period of January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021, the financial assistance will be given to his or her beneficiary.
Employees’ Compensation Pensioners in the Private Sector to Receive their one-time 20k financial Assistance Starting June
“The P20,000 financial assistance from the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) for private sector EC pensioners will be e credited to their accounts starting this month of June,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
“The one-time financial assistance of P20,000 will be released in batches to about 20,000 EC pensioners by the Social Security System (SSS), ECC‘s administering agency for the private sector,” Bello added.
In her report to the DOLE Secretary who is the Chairman of the ECC, ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said that qualified EC pensioners need not apply for the financial assistance as the SSS will process the financial assistance in the same manner as the processing of their EC pensions. “EC pensioners in the private sector with at least one month of permanent partial disability (PPD), permanent total disability (PTD), or survivorship pension from January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021 will benefit from the one-time financial assistance,” Banawis added.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Administrative Order No. 39, series of 2021, on April 19, approving the granting of a one-time financial assistance of P20,000.00 to EC pensioners in both the public and the private sectors. EC pensioners are persons with permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (PTD) because of their work or their working environment. They can also be the beneficiaries of the employees who died due to work- related contingencies.
In case of the death of the eligible EC pensioner during the prescribed period of January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021, the one-time financial assistance will be released to his or her beneficiary.
“The EC pensioners have suffered work-related disability and the COVID-19 pandemic compounded their vulnerability as they deal with undue financial hardships,” Director Banawis said. “We hope that the one-time financial assistance can ease the financial burdens of our EC pensioners during this trying time. Rest assured that ECC is tirelessly working to provide more assistance to our workers.”
Aside from EC pensioners in the private sector, the one-time financial assistance will also benefit at least 12,000 EC pensioners in the public sector.
ECC GRANTS FREE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE TO A FOREST RANGER
Tacloban City – Phebe Causing, a forest ranger from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office 8, Enforcement Division, was conducting her usual tasks of patrolling and monitoring illegal loggers in the mountains of Pintuyan, Southern Leyte on April 4, 2019. Unfortunately, she fell into a ravine which resulted to her knee injuries.
Causing filed an Employees’
Compensation claim at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) due to her work- related knee injuries. She received three months disability pension with medical reimbursement amounting to more than P29, 000.00.
On top of this, Causing was referred by the Employees’ Compensation Commission Regional Extension Unit Eight for free rehabilitation at the Divine Word Hospital in Tacloban City through the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program. She received free consultations and first cycle of physical therapy which consisted of 12 sessions under the ECC-KaGabay Program.
In September of 2020, Causing received an ECC livelihood assistance amounting to P20, 000.00 to defray the expenses for her chosen enterprise. If she is able to maintain the said livelihood project, she is eligible to avail of an additional complementary livelihood kit amounting to P10, 000.00.
ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said, “The Employees’ Compensation Commission aims to provide a comprehensive package of benefits that supports the financial needs of persons with work related disabilities (PWRDs) and ensures the total well-being of our clients and beneficiaries. We have primarily crafted the KaGabay Program to provide rehabilitation services and livelihood assistance to workers who suffered from work- related contingencies in the hope of bringing them back to the economic mainstream.”
The Employees’ Compensation Program is a government program that provides disability benefits, medical benefits, carer’s allowance, rehabilitation services and related benefits in the event of work-connected sickness, injury or death. The said program is being implemented by the Employees’ Compensation Commission thru its administering agencies, the Social Security System for employees in the private sector, and self- employed workers and the GSIS for workers in the government sector, including uniformed personnel from the Phil. National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
ECC extends cash assistance to AFP personnel and beneficiary
KORONADAL CITY – The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) granted a total of P95, 000.00 cash assistance to eight (8) personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who were wounded-in-action (WIA) and one (1) beneficiary of a killed-in-action (KIA) AFP uniformed personnel in Region 12.
The recipients include Private first class (Pfc.) Loney Sevillo, Pfc.
Jay-ar Embangan, Pfc. Khier Hyler Mosquera, Pfc. Angel Rey Migue, Pfc. Ronnie Bucana, Pfc. Ardel John Cajara, Pfc. John Rey Amistas, and Pfc. Van Rhuzzin Nohi of 57IB, 6ID, Philippine Army (PA). They were injured during a military operation in July 2020 at Brgy. Inaladan, Maguindanao.
Beverly Bustamante, surviving spouse of the late Sgt. John Eric Bustamante, received P15, 000.00 EC cash assistance. Sgt. Bustamante was killed during an encounter with the Abu Sayaf Group (ASG) in June 2020 at Brgy. Kan-Ague, Patikul, Sulu. Aside from the cash benefit, Bustamante may also file for EC survivorship pension with funeral benefits through the GSIS.
“Laking pasasalamat ko po na nabigyan ako ng cash assistance ng ECC, dagdag capital din po ito sa gusto kong simulan na negosyo. Malaking tulong po ito sa amin ng anak ko,” said Bustamante.
COVID-19 vaccine side effects to be covered by ECC
The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) moves to grant compensation to all covered members who got vaccinated under the CoViD-19 Vaccination Program in the event of disability, serious adverse effects or death that may arise despite the proper use of authorized CoViD-19 vaccines.
The Commission approved Board Resolution No. 21-03-08 on March 11, 2021, acknowledging the need to promulgate a policy on the granting of compensation to all covered members in case of injury or hospital confinement due to any serious adverse effects that resulted to disability or death due to inoculation under Republic Act No. 11525 or the CoViD-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
“Although the vaccination program is outside the regular duties of the employees, the ECC recognizes that it is within the course of employment as it will bring mutual benefits between employers and employees through the prevention of infection among workers. It will also protect employers against consequences due to down time loss because of absences of infected employees,” ECC’s Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said.
EC compensation is in the form of loss of income benefits, medical benefits, death and funeral benefits, and rehabilitation services. ECC shall grant EC benefits upon confirmation of the SSS and GSIS of the causal connection between the vaccination and its medical consequences as supported by relevant medical records and/or findings.
The EC benefits will be in addition to the benefits granted by other government agencies as provided for in other laws.
Although vaccination has started, the public are called to continue practicing safety precautions such as physical distancing, proper hand hygiene, proper wearing of face shield and face mask, and staying home, if possible.
ECC gears for 24/7 online public assistance via chatbot
The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) strengthens its public assistance service starting this May 26 with the introduction of a chatbot facility with a live agent on its Facebook page and the ECC website.
The ECC chatbot stimulates and processes human conversation and allows ECC clients to interact with digital devices as if they are communicating with a real ECC employee. It provides a more efficient and systematic 24/7 online public assistance to ECC clients and the public. The chatbot is programmed to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the ECC and the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP).
“The ECC understands the value of information to the public and recognizes the important role social media plays in information dissemination. That is why, we launched our Facebook page in 2015 with the aim of amplifying the awareness of the public on the benefits and services the ECC provides,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said.
From a little over 1,000 likes in its first year, the Facebook page has now accumulated more than 500,000 likes. Along with the significant growth in its following comes the surge of messages received. To ensure that public assistance is timely provided and queries are answered efficiently, the ECC tapped the use of a chatbot to help in capturing and answering all queries sent on its Facebook page.
“The ECC places the Filipino people, especially our workers who suffer from work-related sickness, injury, or death, at the core of its service. We want to make sure that we deliver excellent service to them by being responsive to their needs. Through the chatbot, we provide 24/7 online public assistance, enabling the public to have their basic questions on the ECC and the ECP answered immediately,” Banawis said.
As the chatbot is automated and self- operating, it provides a direct and faster assistance and requires lesser manpower in comparison to the regular customer service operation that is limited to the regular work operations and subject to the availability of manpower. The chatbot is set up with a menu of questions that are instantly answered except for complex questions where a live agent or ECC representative takes charge.
In addition to its efforts in strengthening its online presence, the Employees’ Compensation Commission continues to increase public awareness on the Employees’ Compensation Program through its information dissemination campaign which includes radio programs, SMS text blast, press interviews and publication of press releases in multi-media platforms. Despite the challenges presented by the CoViD-19 pandemic and the restrictions due to the community quarantine, the ECC also remains committed in making its benefits and services known to the public through the conduct of webinars, in place of the usual face-to-face seminars.
Uniformed personnel who were wounded in action (WIA) and beneficiaries of uniformed personnel who were killed in action (KIA) are entitled to benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP). Aside from the cash assistance of P10,000.00 for WIA and P15,000.00 for qualified beneficiaries of KIA, the latter would receive also funeral benefit in the amount of P30,000.00 and a monthly survivorship pension from ECC through the GSIS. The GSIS and the SSS are the administering agencies of ECP for the public and private sector, respectively.
ECC-REU 12 also intensifies its information dissemination to wounded or killed PNP and AFP personnel in coordination with the Regional Working Group (RWG) for the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP) which is being spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 12. Through the CSBP, ECC aims to reach the uniformed personnel in Region 12, including some areas of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), such as Maguindanao and Cotabato City.
The Employees Compensation Program provides compensation to workers in the event of work-connected sickness or injuries which resulted to disability or death. EC claims may be filed in the SSS for the private sector and in the GSIS for the public sector.
WFH injuries now compensable, says ECC
Employees who suffer from disability or death due to injuries sustained while working from home may now avail benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) after the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) approved Board Resolution No. 21-03-09.
The board resolution, which was approved on March 11 by the ECC governing board, creates a policy on the compensability of disability or death due to injuries sustained by the employees in the public and private sector while in the performance of their duties or assigned tasks in their residences or dwelling places.
ECC’s Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis believes it is high time for the Commission to issue the policy in recognition of the new and alternative avenues employees carry out their work.
“As the policy arm of the ECP, we want to make sure that our program remains relevant and responsive to the needs of our workers and the demands of their working environment. The ECC saw a need to initiate this policy in response to the changing landscape of work and definition of workplace, propelled by the development in telecommunications and innovations in computer technology,” she said.
Banawis also said that the CoViD-19 pandemic has pushed industries to rethink their work arrangements. Following the declaration of a state of public health emergency and state of calamity in the Philippines, many companies and agencies in the public and private sectors have adopted work-from-home arrangement to safeguard the health of their employees and minimize the transmission of the virus. As such, many workers are performing their duties and tasks at home.
“Employees who are working from home are not exempted from possible work-connected disabilities or deaths due to injury- related incidents. We need to extend our benefits to cover work-connected injury or death that they may suffer while in the performance of their duties or specific tasks at their residences or dwelling places,” Banawis added.
Under Board Resolution No. 21- 03-09, disability or death due to injuries sustained by the employees while working from home will be compensable under the ECP, provided that there is a written directive or order from his or her employer requiring a work- from-home arrangement or the performance of a specific tasks within a specified period at the residence or dwelling place of the employee.
Under the EC Program, workers who suffer from work-related sickness, injury, or death is entitled to EC benefits such as loss of income benefits, medical benefits, and death and funeral benefits. Persons with work-related disabilities may also avail of rehabilitation services under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program. The rehabilitation services include free physical, speech, or occupational therapy, assistive devices, and livelihood training and financial assistance.
“We hope, with this new policy, we can provide more assistance to our workers and address their needs especially during this trying time,” Banawis said.
The ECC continues to urge the public to practice safety precautions through proper wearing of face masks and face shield, regular hand washing, and staying home as much as possible to prevent the spread of CoViD-19.
PWRDs in Ilocos Region undergo virtual livelihood training
The Employees’ Compensation Commission made some adjustments in providing entrepreneurship training to its beneficiaries in response to the minimum health standard being implemented by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), discouraging mass gathering.
In Ilocos Region, 20 persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) trained online as pre-requisite for their livelihood assistance worth ₱20, 000.00 under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP).
Qualified beneficiaries underwent “Basic Productivity Enhancement Training.” One of the modules delved on 7S of Good Housekeeping: Keeping a Safe and Healthy Workplace Amidst Pandemic on April 19, 2021.
The activity was in coordination with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Regional Office 1.
“In line with ECC’s objective to integrate the PWRDs into the economic mainstream through Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program, we conducted this activity to ensure sustainability of the livelihood assistance granted to the PWRDs,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan- Banawis said.
Regional Administrative Officer Randy Angelo Ponciano said, “Productivity 101 is a basic orientation on productivity concepts, measures, tools and techniques for productivity and quality improvement in all types of business so that our PWRDs can effectively manage and sustain their current and future business.”
“The training was informative and ideal for all business. Information are applicable not only in our business but also in our workplace and at home,” said Vincent Resonable, a nurse and COVID-19 survivor from La Union.
The ECC will further provide a complementary livelihood grant of ₱10, 000.00 if a PWRD was able to sustain his/her business for at least three months to encourage participants to expanding their livelihood enterprise.
The virtual training was also made with the goal of protecting PWRDs especially during this time of COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted all facets of life across the country.
