6/7/2020
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grounds:
I.
xxx PETITIONER [WAS] RENDERED TOTALLY UNFIT AS [A] SEAFARER IN
ANY CAPACITY DUE TO WORK RELATED AND WORK AGGRAVATED
ILLNESSES ENTITLING HIM TO FULL DISABILITY COMPENSATION UNDER
THE CBA.
II.
THAT THE DECISION OF THE HONORABLE NLRC AFFIRMING THE DECISION
OF THE LABOR ARBITER IS JUDICIOUS AND MERITORIOUS AS IT IS
SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.[10]
The Court's Ruling
The Court resolves to grant the petition.
Entitlement of seamen on overseas work to disability benefits is a matter governed, not
only by medical findings, but by law and by contract. The material statutory provisions
are Articles 191 to 193 under Chapter VI (Disability Benefits) of the Labor Code, in
relation with Rule X of the Rules and Regulations Implementing Book IV of the Labor
Code. By contract, the POEA-SEC, as provided under Department Order No. 4, series of
2000 of the Department of Labor and Employment, and the parties' CBA bind the
seaman and his employer to each other.[11]
Section 20 (B), paragraph 6 of the 2000 POEA-SEC[12] reads:
Section 20-B. Compensation and Benefits for Injury or Illness. The liabilities of the employer when the seafarer suffers work-related
injury or illness during the term of his contract are as follows:
xxxx
6. In case of permanent total or partial disability of the seafarer caused by
either injury or illness the seafarer shall be compensated in accordance with
the schedule of benefits enumerated in Section 32 of this Contract.
Computation of his benefits arising from an illness or disease shall be
governed by the rates and the rules of compensation applicable at the time
the illness or disease was contracted, xxx
For disability to be compensable under Section 20 (B) of the 2000 POEA-SEC, two
elements must concur: (1) the injury or illness must be work-related; and (2) the workelibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/61708
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