Persons with work-related disabilities get free rehab

FILE: ECC Logo (Photo: Employees’ Compensation Commission/Facebook)

MANILA — Persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Calabarzon region can now enjoy free and accessible rehabilitation services.

This, after the Employee’s Compensation Commission (ECC) and the University of Perpetual Help Medical Center (UPHMC) in Binan, Laguna have signed a memorandum to provide such services through hospital partnership.

ECC Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis spearheaded the partnership together with Work Contingency Prevention and Rehabilitation Division chief Dr. Melba Sacro.

The other organizers are UPHMC-Binan representatives Dr. Victor Tamayo, Maria Consorcia Tamayo, Dr. Anna Sofia Victoria Fajardo, Dr. Adrien Quidiat, Dr. Ananias Gilbuena Jr., and Herminia Lagliva.

“This initiative is a product of the Employee’s Compensation (EC) rehabilitation program which basically aims to provide free and accessible physical restoration services to PWRDs in nearby Region 4-A and NCR,” Banawis said.

Banawis said the linkage will help PWRDs become productive members of the society once they are reintegrated to the mainstream.

Apart from the rehabilitation services provided by ECC partner hospitals, PWRDs will receive a PHP500 meal and transportation daily.

PWRDs who undergo entrepreneurial training can avail of the starter or complimentary kit of PHP20,000 to PHP30,000.

Banawis said all these will encourage the PWRDs to complete their therapy and training sessions.

To date, ECC Regional Extension Unit 4-A already has 11 partner hospitals in the region but Banawis encourages more hospitals with facilities for psychosocial, physical and occupational therapies to partner with them.