DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) reminded all workers to know their rights, benefits, and privileges under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) to be protected in times of work-connected sickness, injury, or death.

Maria Cecilia Maulion, chief of the Info and Public Assistance Division of ECC, said the ECP is a primary social protection and workers’ safeguard program administered by the Social Security System (SSS) for the private sector and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the public sector.

“Ang aming panawagan sa ating mga workers, kasi marami ang hindi aware na covered na pala sila ng ECP na once there is a work-related contingency, work-related sickness or injury which resulted to disability or death, surely you can count on the ECP,” Maulion said in an interview.

She said, “Actually hindi lang ‘yong workers with employee and employer relationship ang covered ng programa, kasama rin dito ang mga uniformed personnel at self-employed workers pati ‘yong mga household helpers natin.”

“Nais namin silang maging aware dahil kapag may nangyaring aksidente o pagkakasakit, usually the workers proceed to SSS  or GSIS, hindi nila alam na pwede pa palang lumapit sa ECC once the sickness on injury is work-related,” she added.

Maulion said in times of work-related injury, sickness or death, workers may avail of ECP benefits such as sickness or disability benefits, medical benefits, carer’s allowance, rehabilitation services as well as death and funeral benefits.

“Ang pinakaimportante rito (benefits) ay rehabilitation services dahil gusto natin ay maisailalim agad ang empleyado sa occupational or physical therapy para mas mabilis sila makabalik sa trabaho. Pero once na ang empleyado ay hindi na talaga kayang bumalik na magtrabaho, bibigyan sila ng ECC ng maliban sa permanent partial disability or permanent total disability benefit meron pa silang livelihood starter kit, in the amount of P20,000,” Maulion said.

She added that employees are often not aware of the EC program because contributions paid by the employer for the benefit of the worker are not printed on their pay slips.

“Hindi kasi makikita sa payslip ng worker ‘yong employers’ contribution kasi mostly ang makikita lang sa payslip ay kung anong deductions pero sana ma-institutionalized ‘yan, na mailagay sa payslip ‘yong employers’ contribution,” she added.

Likewise, Maulion said that for employers who have work-related injury, sickness or death, EC claims may be filed by the claimant or his beneficiary at the System (SSS for the private sector, and the GSIS for the public sector employees) nearest to the place of work or residence.

She said employers or claimants may also visit the nearest ECC Regional Extension Unit or send a message through the ECC chatbot or on ECC’s official Facebook page.

In Region 1, the ECC Regional Extension Unit can be found on the second floor of Kenny Plaza Building, Quezon Avenue, Catbangen, San Fernando City, La Union.

Region 1 workers or employers may also send an e-mail to reu1@ecc.gov.ph or call through telephone number (072) 607-7096 or send a message to the ECC Regional Extension Unit 1 Facebook page. (JCR/AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)