provisions must, therefore, be construed and applied fairly, reasonably and liberally in their favor. Only then can its beneficent provisions be fully carried into effect. [5] Section 20 B of the POEA Standard Employment Contract provides: B. Compensation and Benefits for Injury or Illness. The liabilities of the employer when the seaman suffers injury or illness during the term of his contract are as follows: xxxxxx However, if after repatriation, the seafarer still requires medical attention arising from said injury or illness, he shall be so provided at cost to the employer until such time that he is declared fit to work or the degree of permanent disability has been assessed x x x. xxxxxx 5. In case of permanent, total, or partial disability of the seafarer during the term of employment caused by either injury or illness, the seafarer shall be compensated in accordance with the schedule of benefits enumerated in Section 30 of this contract x x x Here, it is undisputed that the sale of LPG/C Helikon resulted in the pre-termination of respondents employment contract and his eventual repatriation to the Philippines on September 21, 1996. Nevertheless, petitioners responsibility for respondents welfare subsisted since his services remained uninterrupted but was pre-terminated for reasons not attributable to his own fault. In sum, we find that the Court of Appeals did not gravely abuse its discretion in ruling that petitioners are liable to pay respondent his permanent disability benefits. WHEREFORE, the instant petition is DENIED. The challenged Decision dated September 30, 1999 and Resolution dated December 29,