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746 PHIL. 736
SECOND DIVISION
[ G.R. No. 196122, November 12, 2014 ]
JOEL B. MONANA, PETITIONER, VS. MEC GLOBAL
SHIPMANAGEMENT AND MANNING CORPORATION AND HD HERM
DAVELSBERG GMBH, RESPONDENTS.
DECISION
LEONEN, J.:
This labor case involves a seafarer's claim for disability benefits. It involves an
application of Section 20(B) of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Standard Employment Contract (POEA contract). The POEA contract states that for an
illness to be compensable, (1) it must be work-related and (2) it must have existed
during the term of the seafarer's employment contract.[1]
Joel B. Monana (Monana) filed this petition for review[2] in relation to his disability
benefits claim for hypertension. The Labor Arbiter ruled in favor of Monana and
granted US$60,000.00 as disability benefits. The National Labor Relations Commission
vacated the Labor Arbiter’s decision, but granted US$3,000.00 as financial assistance.
The Court of Appeals agreed with the National Labor Relations Commission and
dismissed Monana’s petition. Monana now seeks to reinstate the Labor Arbiter's
judgment.[3]
On September 5, 2006, MEC Global Ship Management and Manning Corporation and its
foreign principal, HD Herm Davelsberg GMBH, employed Monana as an ordinary
seafarer for a six-month duration on board M/V Bellavia.[4] Monana boarded on
September 11, 2006 and performed his tasks that “included cleaning, chipping,
painting, and assisting in deck work.”[5]
On January 22, 2007, Monana felt dizzy with blurring of vision and body weakness
associated with slurred speech and numbness of the right side of the face.[6] The ship
doctor prescribed oral anti-hypertensive medication.[7]
Monana was airlifted to
Honolulu Medical Center the next day where he was treated and diagnosed to have
suffered a stroke.[8]
He then transferred to a rehabilitation hospital where he
underwent physical therapy for two days.[9]
On January 31, 2007, Monana was repatriated to the Philippines and referred to Dr.
Susannah Ong-Salvador (Dr. Ong-Salvador), the company-designated physician.[10]
He was first confined at the University of Sto. Tomas hospital, then he continued his
physical therapy and treatment with company-designated doctors in Iloilo.[11]
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