WHEREAS,  there is a need to address the present disparity in the amount of Employment Compensation (EC) benefits between the employees in the public sector and the covered workers in the private sector;

WHEREAS,  on September 27, 2012, the Employees ™ Compensation Commission (ECC) has adopted Resolution No. 12-09-21, increasing the amount of EC benefits in the public sector to equal the amount of EC benefits presently enjoyed in the private sector;

WHEREAS,  the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) actuarial studies show that the GSIS-managed State Insurance Fund (SIF) can finance the increase of EC benefits for the public sector without affecting the stability of the GSIS-managed SIF and without requiring additional contributions from the national government; and

WHEREAS,  pursuant to Article 177(e) of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 626, as amended, the ECC shall have the powers and duties, among others, to upgrade benefits and grant new ones for permanent disability or death, subject to the approval of the President, provided that the actuarial stability of the SIF shall be guaranteed and that such increases in benefits shall no: require any increases in contributions.

NOW, THEREFORE I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III,  President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Temporary Total Disability Benefits.  The amount of EC Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits granted for employees in the public sector shall be increased from Ninety Pesos (?90.00) to Two Hundred Pesos (?200.00) per day.

SECTION 2. Funeral Benefits.  The amount of EC funeral benefits granted to employees in the public sector shall be increased from Three Thousand Pesos (?3,000.00) to Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00).

SECTION 3. Professional Fees.  The Professional Fee for the first visit shall be increased from Sixty Pesos (?60.00) to One Hundred Pesos (?100.00) for the General Practitioner, and from Eighty Pesos (?80.00) to One Hundred Fifty Pesos (?150.00) for the Specialist. For succeeding visits, the Professional Fee shall be increased from Sixty Pesos (?60.00) to Eighty Pesos (?80.00) for the General Practitioner, and from Fifty Pesos (?50.00) to One Hundred Pesos (?100.00) for the Specialist.

SECTION 4. Appropriation and Release from the SIF.  The ECC and the GSIS are hereby directed to appropriate and release the amount necessary to cover the increase in EC benefits from the reserves of the SIF that the GSIS administers for the public sector under the Employees ™ Compensation Program.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations.  The ECC shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement this Executive Order.

SECTION 6. Amendment or Modification.  All Presidential issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause.  If any provision of this Executive Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Effectivity.  This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette and in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of April, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand and thirteen.

 

(Sgd.)  BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)  PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary