ECC still to rule if death was job-related

This is in reference to the letter of Rosalinda L. Franco titled “SSS-Tarlac, head office runaround.” (Inquirer, 7/21/11) Franco, the surviving spouse of Felino P. Franco, said her claim for death benefits was “left unattended” by SSS-Tarlac for three years.

She said: “At first my claim was left unattended for three years. Now I am being given the runaround by SSS-Tarlac and the Medical Department at the SSS central office in Diliman, Quezon City.”

Franco’s husband, Felino, Lagoon and Pump Operator at the Central Azucarera de Tarlac, died of chronic renal failure caused by hypertension on Aug. 5, 2003. Franco filed for death benefits on Jan. 26, 2004, and SSS settled her claim in two days.

After four years, on Oct. 24, 2008, Franco filed for death benefits under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) program. SSS-Tarlac declared Franco’s death was not job-related and denied her claim.

We wish to point out that Franco appealed her case directly to the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC). As a matter of procedure, the SSS Medical Operations Department (MOD) must review the appeal before it could be elevated to the ECC.

The ECC endorsed Franco’s appeal to MOD on March 24, 2011. After careful review, the MOD affirmed the findings of SSS Tarlac. The MOD forwarded the case to the ECC last July 20 and we await its final decision on the matter.

—JOEL P. PALACIOS, assistant vice president, Media Affairs Department