Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on Thursday directed the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) to swiftly release financial aid and comprehensive benefits to the victims and families affected by the tragic building collapse in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Under the Employees’ Compensation Program, the immediate families of those who perished in the disaster are eligible for an initial ₱15,000 cash handout. The ECC has also been ordered to guide beneficiaries through the application process for an additional ₱30,000 funeral benefit from the Social Security System (SSS), which will be given on top of regular SSS claims.
Furthermore, surviving spouses and minor children may qualify for long-term death pension benefits.
For the laborers who survived the incident but sustained injuries, the government is providing ₱10,000 in immediate financial assistance, alongside separate disability benefits that will be evaluated and determined by the SSS.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) emphasized its dedication to fast-tracking the distribution of these relief packages. Through close coordination with the ECC and adjacent state agencies, the labor department aims to minimize bureaucratic delays for the affected households.
The directive comes on the heels of a devastating structural failure that has claimed at least five lives. While rescue teams have successfully pulled 26 survivors from the wreckage, operations continue as 15 individuals remain missing.