Case Digest (G.R. No. L-62284)
Facts:
Dolores P. Poral, a teacher at Iwa Macatol Elementary School in Pototan, Iloilo, sought disability benefits for acute glaucoma. She first experienced intense eye pain and blurring of vision in 1957, later underwent eye surgery, and despite operations her sight never returned to normal; she applied for retirement benefits effective August 1977. Her claim under Presidential Decree No. 626, as amended, was denied by the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) and GSIS on the ground that her glaucoma was not an occupational disease.Issues:
- Whether a teacher’s glaucoma is compensable under the governing compensation law.
- Whether the claim could be granted under the law even if the illness had occurred before the effectivity of Presidential Decree No. 626.
Ruling:
The Court granted the petition, set aside the ECC’s denial, and ordered the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports to pay Poral PHP 6,000.00 as disability compensation benefits and attorney’s fees equivalent to ten Case Digest (G.R. No. L-62284)
Facts:
- Parties and employment status
- Petitioner Dolores P. Poral was a teacher at Iwa Macatol Elementary School, Pototan, Iloilo.
- Respondent Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) denied petitioner’s claim.
- Respondent Government Service Insurance System (Ministry of Education and Culture) was involved in the denial of the claim.
- Medical condition and effect on work
- Petitioner was fifty-five (55) years old.
- Petitioner applied for retirement due to acute glaucoma.
- Petitioner experienced intense pain and blurring of vision in 1957.
- Petitioner was advised to undergo an operation.
- Dr. Eduardo Gonzaga performed eye surgery, but petitioner continued to frequently miss her classes due to eye pain and blurring of vision.
- On December 1, 1972, petitioner again experienced severe pain.
- Petitioner was forced to go on leave to consult her physician, who advised petitioner to go to Manila for another eye operation.
- Dr. Liborio Mangubat operated on petitioner on December 4, 1972.
- The second operation provided only temporary relief.
- Petitioner’s sight never returned to normal.
- Claim for disability benefits and denial by respondents
- Petitioner decided to apply for retirement benefits effective August 1977.
- Petitioner filed a claim for income benefits under Presidential Decree No. 626, as amended.
- Respondent GSIS denied the claim.
- Respondent GSIS held that petitioner’s ailment—acute glaucoma, left eye, and chronic glaucoma, right eye—w...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Compensability of glaucoma of a teacher
- Whether a teacher’s glaucoma is compensable under the applicable law and principles governing employees’ compensation claims.
- Temporal coverage and applicable law
- Whether petitioner’s claim should be considered under the New Labor Code even if the ailment occurred before 1975.
- Whether, despite the GSIS denial under Presidential Decre...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)