CC realigns P20-M budget for Covid-19 cash aid to workers

THE EMPLOYEES  Compensation Commission (ECC) on Tuesday said it has realigned PHP20 million to help more workers who contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) due to work. 

In a statement, ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said realigning more than half of their information and communication budget for this year aims to increase its budget intended for cash assistance to help more workers from both public and private sectors who tested positive of the virus while in the performance of their duties.

A cash aid of PHP10,000 for sickness and PHP15,000 for death is a special project of the ECC under its Quick Response Program that aims to provide qualified workers and/or their families with immediate financial support.

“We value the importance of info campaigns, but with the situation we are in now, we believe that giving benefits directly to workers is far more important than placing advertisements,” she said.

Despite cutting more than half the budget of its information programs, the ECC head said the agency will continue to communicate its programs and services through a stronger digital media presence in Facebook and website, TV and radio interviews, and weekly webinars to ensure that the public is aware of the ECC and its programs.

“We also asked the help of our partner agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Wages and Productivity Commission, Government Service Insurance System and Social Security System to share our info materials in their respective social media pages to reach more workers,” Banawis added.

With the continuously growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the ECC is expecting more workers who will avail of its benefits and services.

ECC is a government corporation attached to DOLE for policy coordination and guidance. It was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 626, as amended and as embodied in Title II of Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines.

It is mandated to provide meaningful and appropriate compensation to workers and their dependents in the event of work-related contingencies such as sickness, injury, disability or death. (By Ferdinand Patinio(By Ferdinand Patinio )