THE Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) Regional Extension Unit in the Cordillera Region admitted the mining industry fills a bulk of claims.
Dennis Garret Lee, ECC Cordillera Regional Advocacy Focal Person, said those who have claimed benefits were injured, acquired diseases or died all due to work related circumstances in the mining industry.
“Dito sa Cordillera, ang maraming cases ng illnesses natin ay related sa mining activities. Ang mining ang isa sa pinakamalaking industriya sa Cordillera at karamihan sa mga nag-claim ng benefits ay nagtrabaho sa minahan,” Lee said.
Ailments include spinal injuries and respiratory diseases while some claimed benefits because of amputation procedures and benefits given the next of kin.
“Ang mga claim ay dahil sa work related activities at dahil hazardous nga ang trabaho nila. Some of them may mga nagtrabaho ng 20 years, may mga injuries na nakuha even illnesses at iba pang mga sakit,” Lee explaining that mining companies have also contributed to the employment rate of the region.
Lee has advised employees who have work related injuries to file their claims for benefits under a prescribed period.
All employees compensation claim may be filed by the claimant or his beneficiary at the Social Security System (SSS) for private sector employees and in Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the public sector employees.
In case of injury, death, or sickness, the employee or his dependents or anybody on his behalf, will have to notify the employer within five days from the occurrence of the contingency.
After notification, the employee must file in the system within three years.
The system shall evaluate the claim upon submission of complete requirements such as medical record and proof of being an employee, decision denying or awarding compensation will be made promptly.
Cases which can be claimed are loss of income benefit which includes temporary total disability/sickness benefit, permanent total disability and permanent partial disability. Some of the benefits that can be claimed are allowance, medical benefits, death and funeral benefits and rehabilitation services.