Requesting the Congress of the Philippines to Amend Section 55 of R.A. 8291 for Purposes of Granting Double Recovery of Benefits Under the Government Service Insurance System and Under the Employees' Compensation Program

August 7, 2013ECC BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 13-08-24REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO AMEND SECTION 55 OF R.A. 8291 FOR PURPOSES OF GRANTING DOUBLE RECOVERY OF BENEFITS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM AND UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION PROGRAMExcerpts from the Minutes of the Fifth (5th) Joint Regular Commission Meeting, Employees' Compensation Commission, Series of 2013, Convened at the Multi-Purpose Hall, 4th Floor, ECC Bldg.,Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.,Makati City, Wednesday, 07 August 2013 at 9:00 A.M.WHEREAS, Article II, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution provides:"The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare." (emphasis supplied)WHEREAS, employees in the private sector enjoy simultaneous recovery of benefits under both the Labor Code and under the SSS law;WHEREAS, Section 55 of R.A. No. 8291, otherwise known as "The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997," provides:"SEC. 55. Exclusiveness of Benefits. — Whenever other laws provide similar benefits for the same contingencies covered by this Act, the member who qualifies to the benefits shall have the option...