Storm workers may file claims—Baldoz

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Employees who were adversely affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda may file their compensation claims, according to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

“I encourage those who suffered injuries, sickness or death in the performance of their duties during the supertyphoon and other calamities to immediately file their employee compensation claims. The Employees Compensation Commission has a compensation program for them,” Baldoz said in a statement.

Those covered by the program include personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Others include newscasters and news teams, members of rescue missions, medical teams, public transport employees, relief mission teams, security guards and house help.

Baldoz said EC benefits include loss of income benefits, medical services, carer’s allowance, rehabilitation services and death with funeral benefits, which may be claimed through the ECC’s administering agencies— the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for public sector workers and the Social Security System (SSS) for private sector employees.—Tina G. Santos