By Genalyn D. Kabiling President Duterte has issued Executive Order No. 54 increasing employees’ compensation (EC) benefits in the private sector and carer’s allowance in the public sector. Under the order signed last May 8, the President approved a P1,150 across-the-board increase in EC monthly disability pension of all permanent disability pensioners and qualified beneficiaries in the private sector. The amount of carer’s allowance granted to EC permanent disability pensioners in both the public and private sectors has also been increased to P1,000 from P575 per month. Also approved were increases in the reimbursement rates of professional fees of physicians and physical therapy sessions, as well as temporary total disability benefits for the private sector. The EO raised the reimbursement for professional fees of physicians under the EC medical benefits for employees in the private sector. For daily ward visits, the reimbursement rate is P400 per day for general practitioner and P600 for specialist. The maximum per confinement is P1,600 for general practitioner and P2,400 for specialist. For intensive care unit/coronary care unit, the reimbursement rate is P800 per day and P3,200 maximum per confinement for general practitioner. The specialist’s rates are P1,200 per day and P4,800 maximum per confinement at the ICU/CCU ward. The reimbursement rate for out-patient consultation is P400 for general practitioner and P600 for specialist. EO 54 also increased the reimbursement amount for physical therapy sessions under the EC medical benefits for employees in the private sector from P65 per session to a maximum of P500 per session. “There is a need to continually improve benefits under the Employees' Compensation Program (ECP) to make them more responsive to the welfare and development needs of occupationally disabled workers,” the order read. “The results of the actuarial studies of the SSS (Social Security System) and GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) show that the SIF (State Insurance Fund) can finance the increases without affecting the stability of the SIF and without requiring additional contributions,” it added. EO 54 has directed the SSS to continue to implement P2,000 minimum EC Monthly Disability and Survivorship pension in the private sector. The agency must also continue to grant the entitlement of primary beneficiaries of deceased permanent total disability pensioners in the private sector from 80 percent to 100 percent of the member's monthly pension. The amount of Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD) for the Private Sector has also been increased from a minimum daily income benefit of R10 to P110 and from a maximum daily income benefit of P200 to P480. The President has directed the Employees' Compensation Commission, SSS and GSIS to appropriate and release the funds necessary to cover the increase in the benefits.