Labor Secretary and Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) Chairman Silvestre Bello 3rd leads the awarding of livelihood starter kits to four persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) under the Employee's Compensation Program (ECP) on May 5, 2022 at the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Central Office in Intramuros, Manila. Narciso Dayao Jr. (center), one of the ECP beneficiaries, is a former maintenance helper at Elixir Multipurpose Cooperative who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident on his way to work; he receives a P20,000 livelihood starter kit to purchase supplies and materials for his livestock venture from the Labor chief, while (from left) ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis, DoLE Undersecretary Benjo Santos Benavidez, and ECC Work Contingency, Prevention and Rehabilitation Division chief Dr. Raymond Bañaga look on.

PHOTO BY ALEJANDRO P. EHAVEZ-IPS