8/27/2020
E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly
2. The disease was contracted as a result of the seafarer's exposure to
the described risks;
3. The disease was contracted within a period of exposure and under such
other factors necessary to contract it; and
4. There was no notorious negligence on the part of the seafarer.
(Emphasis supplied)
Unlike "work-relatedness," no legal presumption of compensability is accorded to the
seafarer. As such, the seafarer bears the burden to prove substantial evidence that the
conditions of compensability have been satisfied. This applies for both listed
occupational disease and non-listed illness.[27]
decrees:
Atienza v. Orophil[28]
lucidly
Therefore, it is apparent that for both listed occupational disease and a nonlisted illness and their resulting injury to be compensable, the seafarer must
sufficiently show by substantial evidence compliance with the conditions for
compensability.
If the employer fails to successfully dispute the work-relatedness of the seafarer's
illness, and the latter, in turn, has established compliance with the conditions for
compensability, the issue now shifts to a determination of the nature of the disability
(i.e., permanent and total or temporary and total) and the amount of disability benefits
due the seafarer.[29]
Here, respondents mainly rely on the alleged pre-existence of petitioner's illness and
have failed to refute the presumption of its work-relatedness or aggravation by reason
of his work. The presumption, therefore, remains in place in petitioner's favor, i.e. his
injury or illness was work-related or was aggravated by his work condition.
Both the company-designated doctor and Dr. Chuasuan, Jr. agreed that petitioner
suffered from Osteoarthritis and got repatriated after finishing his employment
contract. Osteoarthritis is listed as an occupational disease which is presumed to be
work-related. Under Section 32-A (21) of the 2010 POEA-SEC, for Osteoarthritis to be
considered as an occupational disease, it must have been contracted in any occupation
involving:
a. Joint strain from carrying heavy load, or unduly heavy physical labor, as among
laborers and mechanics;
b. Minor or major injuries to the joint;
c. Excessive use or constant strenuous usage of a particular joint, as among
sportsmen, particularly those who have engaged in the more active sports
https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/65546
6/13