BRIEF HISTORY

The ECC is a government corporation. It is attached to the Department of Labor and Employmentfor policy coordination and guidance. It is a quasi-judicial corporate entity created to implement the Employees Compensation Program (ECP). The ECP provides a package of benefits for public and private sector employees and their dependents in the event of work-connected contingencies such as sickness, injury, disability or death. As implementor of the Employees Compensation Program, ECC is mandated by law to provide meaningful and appropriate compensation to workers. Its main functions are:

To formulate policies and guidelines for the improvement of the employees' compensation program; To review and decide on appeal all EC claims disapproved by the Systems; and To initiate policies and programs toward adequate occupational health and safety and accident prevention in the working environment

LEGAL MANDATE
The ECC was created in November 1, 1974 by virtue of PD 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines. It, however, become fully operational with the issuance of PD 626 which took effect January 1, 1975.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Under Article 177 of P.D. 626 as amended, the ECC has the following powers and duties: a. b. c. d. To assess and fix a rate of contributions from all employers; To determine the rate of contribution payable by an employer whose records show a high frequency of work accidents or occupational disease due to failure by the said employer to observe adequate measures; To approve rules and regulations governing the processing of claims and the settlement of disputes arising therefrom as prescribed by the System; To initiate policies and programs toward adequate occupational health and safety and accident prevention in the working environment, rehabilitation other than those provided for under Article 190 hereof, and other related programs and activities, and to appropriate funds therefor. (As amended by Sec. 3, P.D. 1368). To make the necessary actuarial studies and calculations concerning the grant of constant help and income benefits for permanent disability and death, and the rationalization of the benefits for permanent disability and death under the Title with benefits payable by the System for similar contingencies; Provided; That the Commission may upgrade benefits and add new ones subject to approval of the President; and Provided, Further, That the actuarial stability of the State Insurance Fund shall be guaranteed; Provided, Finally, that such increases in benefits shall not require any increases in contribution, except as provided for in paragraph (b) hereof. (As amended by Sec. 3, P.D. 1641). f. g. To appoint the personnel of its staff, subject to civil service law and rules, but exempt from WAPCO law and regulations; To adopt annually a budget of expenditures of the Commission and its staff chargeable against the State Insurance Fund; Provided, that the SSS and GSIS shall advance on a quarterly basis the remittance of allotment of the loading fund for this Commission's operational expenses based on its annual budget as duly approved by the Ministry of Budget and Management. (As amended by Sec. 3, P.D. 1921). h. i. j. To have the power to administer oath and affirmation, and to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with any question or issue arising from appealed cases under this Title. To sue and be sued in court; To acquire property, real or personal, which may be necessary or expedient for the attainment of the purposes of this Title;

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To enter into agreements or contracts for such services or aid as may be needed for the proper, efficient and stable administration of the program; To perform such other acts as it may deem appropriate for the attainment of the purposes of the Commission and proper enforcement of the provisions of this Title. (As amended by Sec. 18, P.D. 850).

OUR MISSION
The ECC champions the welfare of the Filipino worker. Its mission is to:

Build and sustain among employees and employers a culture of safety and healthful environment in the workplace; Ensure at all times that workers are informed of their rights, benefits and privileges under the Employees Compensation Program (ECP); Develop and implement innovative policies, programs and projects that meet the needs of workers with work-connected contingencies; Promptly and fairly resolve all cases brought before it Restore dignity and self-esteem among occupationally disabled workers; and Safeguard the integrity of the State Insurance Fund.

OUR VISION
A nationally-acclaimed institution in social security promotion that is in full control of the Employees Compensation Program, managing a sound, strong, and wisely invested State Insurance Fund and delivering promptly, effectively and efficiently to the Filipino worker a comprehensive package of services and benefits for work-connected contingencies through pro-active, humane and dynamic policies, programs and activities

CLAIMS FILING
Any claim for income benefit arising out of work-connected disability or death must be filed with the Social Secuirty System or Government Service Insurance System (as the case may be) and not with the Employees' Compensation Commission. ECC handles only appealed cases i.e. claims disapproved by either the GSIS or the SSS but which the claimant believes is compensable because it is work-connected. The claim can be filed by the employee, or by any of his/her dependents or anyone on his/her behalf, within three years from the occurrence of the accident or illness. The System shall process the claim upon receipt, and determine if the contingency is compensable within five (5) days from submittal of the complete requirements. The decision either denying or awarding compensation shall be made promptly by the System. If the supporting papers are insufficient, the System may require the submission of additional proofs from the employee or his/her dependents, or from any office, entity or agency, having knowledge of the contingency. It is important that the claimant sees to it that all the papers needed to prove that the illness or accident is work-connected or caused by work or by the working environment are submitted. The correct evaluation on the compensability of the claimed contingency shall depend on the sufficiency of these supporting papers. In case of denial, the claimant may file a request for reconsideration, through a simple letter, within ten days from the receipt of the letter of denial. If the System affirms the denial, the claimant may then appeal to the Employees' Compensation Commission. He/She may thus inform the System in writing of his/her desire to make such an appeal, within 30 days from receipt of the letter of denial.

The System shall then forward, within five (5) working days, the entire records of the case to the ECC, which shall review and decide on the appealed case within a month's time. Unlike in other jurisdictions, the claimant does not have to hire lawyer in making the appeal. Should the ECC affirm the System's decision, the claimant, as a last resort, may still appeal to the Supreme Court. This is the only time when the claimant shall need legal services

Frequently Asked Questions on the Employees Compensation Program (ECP)

1. Q:What is the Employees Compensation Program? The Employees Compensation Program is the benefit package for public and private sector employees and their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injuries or death. 2. Q:Who are covered under the ECP? Employees belonging to both the public and private sectors are compulsorily covered under the ECP. 3. Q:When shall coverage of employees under the ECP start? Employees shall be covered starting on the first day of their employment. 4. Q:What are the administering agencies of the ECP? The administering agencies of the ECP are:
1. The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the public sector, and 2. The Social Security System (SSS), for the private sector.

5. Q:Are Filipinos employed abroad covered under the ECP? No. Only Filipino seamen compulsorily covered under the SSS are covered under the ECP. Landbased contract workers are covered only if their employer is engaged in trade or business undertaking in the Philippines. 6. Q:What contingencies are compensable under the ECP? Any work-connected injury or sickness which resulted to disability or death shall be compensable under the ECP. 7. Q:What are the forms of compensation for injury, sickness, disability and death? 1. Cash income benefit for disability or death; 2. Medical and related services - for injury or sickness;
3. Rehabilitation services (in addition to monthly cash income benefit) for temporary

and permanent disability. 8. Q:When is the injury compensable? An injury is compensable when it was sustained due to an accident arising out of or in the course of employment. 9. Q:When is sickness compensable? Any sickness is compensable when it is listed by the ECC as an occupational disease. 10 Q:Can an illness not listed as an occupational disease be considered compensable? . Yes, if proof is shown that the risk of contracting the sickness was increased by the working conditions. 11 Q:When shall EC claims be filed? . Claims for EC benefits must be filed with the GSIS or the SSS, as the case may be, within three years from the time of cause of action occurred (loss of earning

capacity/separation from the service due to work-related sickness or injury). 12 Q:Where are EC claims filed? . Claims are filed at the GSIS, for public sector workers, and the SSS for the private sector workers.