Tamang proseso sa pag-claim ng disability benefits ng seaman
Dear Chief Acosta, Ako ay seafarer na nais mag-file ng complaint para makakuha ng disability benefits mula sa kumpanyang aking pinagtatrabahuhan. Subalit, huli ko nang naisip sapagkat halos anim na buwan na mula nang ako ay makabalik ng bansa nang maalala kong magpakonsulta sa company designated physician ng aking dating pinagtatrabahuhan. Gayunman, maaari pa rin ba akong makakuha ng claim kahit pa hindi ako agad na-examine ng company designated physician? - Echo
Dear Echo, Ayon sa 2010 POEA- SEC o mas kilala sa tawag na “Standard Terms or Conditions Governing the Overseas Employment of Filipino Seafarers On-Board Ocean Goings Ships,” kinakailangang sumailalim ang seafarer sa medical examination ng company designated physician sa loob ng tatlong araw pagdating sa bansa upang matagumpay na makapag-claim ng benepisyo dahil sa injury o sakit, viz:
“Section 20. A. For this purpose, the seafarer shall submit himself to a post-employment medical examination by a company-denigrated physician within three working days upon his return except when he is physically incapacitated to do so, in which case, a written notice to the agency within the same period is deemed as compliance. In the course of the treatment, the seafarer shall also report regularly to the company-designated physician specifically on the dates as prescribed by the company-designated physician and agreed to by the seafarer. Failure of the seafarer to comply with the mandatory reporting requirement shall result in his forfeiture of the right to claim the above benefits.” (Binigyang-diin)
Sa katunayan, sinabi ng Korte Suprema sa kasong Manila Ship Management & Manning, Inc. vs. Aninang (G.R. No. 217135, January 31, 2018), isinulat ni Honorable Associate Justice Andres Reyes, Jr., na ang hindi pagsunod sa procedure ay magreresulta sa forfeiture ng claim ng isang seafarer:
“(T)he Court ruled that the respondent’s non-compliance with the three-day rule on post-employment medical examination was fatal to his cause. As a consequence, his right to claim for compensation and disability benefits was forfeited. The Court ruled that the complaint should have been dismissed outright.” (Binigyang-diin)
Nawa ay nasagot namin ang inyong mga katanungan. Nais naming ipaalala sa inyo na ang opinyong ito ay nakabase sa inyong mga naisalaysay sa inyong liham at sa pagkakaintindi namin dito. Maaaring maiba ang opinyon kung mayroong karagdagang impormasyong ibibigay. Mas mainam kung personal kayong sasangguni sa isang abogado.
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