LEGAZPI CITY—A job order worker of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Camarines Sur had his middle right-finger amputated following an accident while on duty and now fears his employment may no longer be renewed.
A father of five, Garry Chavez, is a maintenance worker assigned to Sangay town under the Camarines Sur 3rd District Engineering based in Tigaon, Camarines Sur known as the Partido Area, reported he was lifting a collapsed concrete kilometer sign on May 10 through his grip when the heavyweight concrete sign fell on his hand and eventually hit and crushed his finger bone.
The report said the crushed finger forced the doctor to have it amputated as the only option to avoid infection. But Chavez dilemma worsened in that being out of work while recuperating from the wound, he could not sustain his medical needs, as the DPWH maintenance officials reportedly told him the office does not have budget for medicine for casual employees.
Regional director Danilo Versola could not be contacted for comment, but his executive assistant, lawyer Felix Brazil, said he had just talked with the Tigaon-based District Engineer Gemma Timbang at the regional office. Timbang told him there was no such incident in her district.
A report on the website by online-blogger and former newsman Joey Trinidad of Tigaon town said the victim when interviewed claimed he did not received any support from the DPWH for his medicines following the accident.
The report added that the May 10 accident was already the second time for Chavez who was also denied medical assistance two years ago.
The report said the first accident as complained by Chavez was in 2015 and had not merited him medical support from the DPWH when hot molten asphalt they were spraying in road to fill up potholes accidentally hit his hands.
Last Monday, maintenance engineer Erly Texon said he was not aware there was such an incident in his Sangay Area saying he has been at the regional office in Legazpi attending seminar.
Asked if he knew of a worker named Garry Chavez in his office, Engr. Texon confirmed there is such a worker in his office named Garry Chavez who is a job order.
But he said he had just talked with the said worker before he left for the Legazpi seminar and that there was no such amputation of a finger made on the worker saying it was a mere minor accident. Texon added the worker did not even mention about medical assistance except that he asked a permission for a leave of absence.