6/8/2020
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amended by P.D. No. 626: (1) temporary total disability, (2) permanent total
disability, and (3) permanent partial disability. Section 2, Rule VII of the
Implementing Rules of Book V of the Labor Code differentiates the
disabilities as follows:
Sec. 2. Disability.- (a) A total disability is temporary if as a result
of the injury or sickness the employee is unable to perform any
gainful occupation for a continuous period not exceeding 120
days, except as otherwise provided for in Rule X of these Rules.
(b) A disability is total and permanent if as a result of the injury
or sickness the employee is unable to perform any gainful
occupation for a continuous period exceeding 120 days,
except as otherwise provided for in Rule X of these Rules.
(c) A disability is partial and permanent if as a result of the injury
or sickness the employee suffers a permanent partial loss of the
use of any part of his body.
In Vicente v. ECC (G.R. No. 85024, January 23, 1991, 193 SCRA 190, 195):
x x x the test of whether or not an employee suffers from `permanent
total disability' is a showing of the capacity of the employee to continue
performing his work notwithstanding the disability he incurred. Thus, if by
reason of the injury or sickness he sustained, the employee is unable to
perform his customary job for more than 120 days and he does not
come within the coverage of Rule X of the Amended Rules on Employees
Compensability (which, in more detailed manner, describes what constitutes
temporary total disability), then the said employee undoubtedly suffers
from `permanent total disability' regardless of whether or not he
loses the use of any part of his body.
A total disability does not require that the employee be absolutely disabled
or totally paralyzed. What is necessary is that the injury must be such
that the employee cannot pursue his usual work and earn therefrom
(Austria v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 146636, Aug. 12, 2002, 387 SCRA
216, 221). On the other hand, a total disability is considered permanent
if it lasts continuously for more than 120 days. Thus, in the very recent
case of Crystal Shipping, Inc. v. Natividad (G.R. No. 134028, December 17,
1999, 321 SCRA 268, 270-271), we held:
Permanent disability is inability of a worker to perform his job for
more than 120 days, regardless of whether or not he loses the
use of any part of his body. x x x.
Total disability, on the other hand, means the disablement of an
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