Yolanda victims to get compensation from DOLE

MANILA, Philippines - Workers displaced by Super Typhoon Yolanda are entitled to compensation from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said yesterday.

In a statement, Baldoz noted the victims would have to apply for compensation with the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), which is under DOLE. 

“I encourage those who suffered from injuries, sickness or death during the performance of their duties during the super typhoon and other calamities to immediately file their employees’ compensation (EC) claims. The ECC has a compensation program for them,” Baldoz, chairman of the ECC, said.

Also entitled to the compensation fund are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection; as well as rescue team and relief personnel of the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, among others.

Baldoz added the EC benefits include loss of income benefits, medical services, rehabilitation services and death with funeral benefits. The benefits may be claimed from ECC’s administering agencies – Government Service Insurance System for public sector workers, and the Social Security System for private sector employees.

Meanwhile, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said Congress should give an additional P10 billion to the engineering battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and P7 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the purchase of clearing equipment like bulldozers, pay loaders, trucks, and excavators.