Although there is no guarantee that he will be able to return to his previous strenuous work, he might be able to walk for activity of daily living with a less painful or more comfortable left foot.   Based [on] these findings, we are giving Disability Grade 11 for Mr. Dee ($50,0000.00 x 14.93%) = $7465.00).[19] (emphasis ours) Significantly, Dr. Manalangs medical findings did not differ from those of the other doctors consulted by private respondent. Essentially, he shared their opinion that the triple arthrodesis operation could not guarantee the restoration of private respondents former physical condition. His pronouncement that all that the operation might do is to enable private respondent to walk for daily activities with a less painful or more comfortable left foot   insinuated that private respondents disability was permanent. His medical opinion could be safely interpreted to mean that, as a result of the injury, private respondent would no longer be able to perform strenuous activities such as the rigorous duties of a seaman. It is not surprising why Dr. Manalangs conclusion as to how much private respondent should receive as disability benefit was at odds with his own findings. The doctor, as the company-designated physician, must have downplayed the compensation due to private respondent; the company, after all, expected that of him. In this light, it is thus not difficult to understand why the seafarer is given the option by the POEA Standard Employment Contract to seek a second opinion from his preferred physician.   Courts are called upon to be vigilant in their time-honored duty to protect labor, especially in cases of disability or ailment. When applied to Filipino seamen, the perilous nature of their work is considered in determining the proper benefits to

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