The Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) is stepping up its efforts to increase awareness on the programs and services it provides by utilizing an online application as platform to reach more potential recipients. ECC executive director Stella Zipagan-Banawis, who led the pilot launching of the ec-Ulat.me Project at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City Tuesday, October 24, said the commission’s thrust is to provide appropriate compensation to workers in the event of work-related contingencies. Zipagan-Banawis said the since ECC is not that “known” to the public compared to other insurance agencies like Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and Pag-Ibig Fund, they are having difficulties looking for clients. “The available services and fund are not fully maximized. We have a state insurance fund of P58 billion, but we are challenged to identify who will be given the services,” she added. The ECC said only few companies report to Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) about work-related contingencies which limits its capacity to provide quick actions, including investigation and provision of necessary services like medical and rehabilitation assistance. This prompted the agency, through its Quick Response Program (GRP), to develop an online work-related accident reporting system mainly to address the gap. The ec-Ulat.me is a web application designed to gather and immediately respond to reports on work-related accidents. The system is capable of receiving reports from computers and mobile devices through an internet browser. It is also capable of receiving reports through short message service (SMS) from any mobile phone. Through the system, the ECC and the Dole will also be able to get the real picture of accidents occurring in the workplaces. Speaking before labor unions, employers, and other stakeholders in Negros Occidental, Zipagan-Banawis said that there is “minimal” reported work-related accidents in the country. She noted that for private sector, the average claimants per year are 45,000. Approved claims from the government sector covers only 20,000 recipients per year. The ECC has yet to issue the figures on the regional level like Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental. This is due to different accidents and diseases related to the employee’s job like hearing problems for mining workers and voice illnesses for call center agents, among others, Zipagan-Banawis said. “So we came out with this application to further enable the people to report and for us to find those that need to be validated for necessary compensation services,” she said, adding that the ECC has been boosting its promotion efforts. Soon the agency will utilize television, social media and other platforms, the official said. The launching of the ec-Ulat.me project, which will also be conducted in other provinces in the country, was attended by representatives of other government agencies. After which, the ECC will hold the 8th Employees’ Compensation Program Advocacy Seminar in Talisay City tomorrow. Meanwhile, Dole Region 6 Director Johnson Cañete, who also attended the activity, announced that the agency will be launching 2017 Jobsfit Validation Report in Bacolod City tomorrow, October 26.