Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is now listed as a “compensable disease.”

Bello said the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), included Covid-19 in its list of occupational and world-related diseases through Board Resolution No. 21-04-14.

“Now, therefore, on motion duly made and seconded, this Commission resolves, as it hereby resolved to include the conditions for the compensability of Covid-19,” the Resolution read.

Covered by Employees Compensation (EC) grant are workers affected by Covid-19 during the pandemic period.

Claimants are required to submit the following documents: certificate of employment from the employer, indicating last day of reporting to works; reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result showing positive Covid-19 from any Department of Health (DOH)-accredited testing facility; medical records as appropriate; and application forms.

Bello said an employee affected by Covid-19 will be receiving P30,000.

“It will become a compensable illness. The usual compensation on work-related illness is P10,000 but if it’s Covid-19, P30,000 under this ECC resolution,” he said. “There is no distinction (mild or severe), if it’s Covid, the compensation will be P30,000. If the patient needs operation or additional hospitalization, PhilHealth is there.”