**Facts:** Manuel Arianza was employed by Central Azucarera de La Carlota, Inc. from 1960, undergoing several role changes during his tenure. Initially, his job involved packing bagasse, a task that came without provision of masks, exposing him to inhaling small bagasse particles. Over the years, Arianza moved to more strenuous roles, eventually working as a water tender, where he was exposed to extreme temperature differences. By 1965, Arianza began experiencing a general weakening of his body, which he initially ignored. However, by April 1972, his condition had worsened, leading to a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and resulting in hospitalization at the company’s expense.
Arianza filed a claim for compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act with the Department of Labor, Sub-Regional Office No. VII, Bacolod City. The local referee ruled in favor of Arianza, but upon review, the Workmen’s Compensation Commission reversed this decision, leading Arianza to appeal to the Supreme Court.
**Issues:** The core legal issue revolves around the compensability of Arianza’s liver cirrhosis under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, scrutinizing whether the illness was caused or aggravated by his employment conditions.
**Court’s Decision:** The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission. The Court found that Arianza’s employment conditions significantly contributed to the deterioration of his health, thereby aggravating his liver cirrhosis. While liver cirrhosis was not directly caused by his work, the adverse working conditions were deemed to have weakened his body’s resistance, rendering his illness compensable under the Act. The Court highlighted that Arianza was fit at the commencement of his employment and that it wasn’t necessary for employment to be the sole factor in the illness’s development; contributing to its development or aggravation was sufficient.
**Doctrine:** This case reiterates the doctrine that an illness does not need to be directly caused by employment to be compensable. If employment contributes to the development or aggravation of an illness, it is compensable under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The Court also underlines the shift in the burden of proof to the employer once an employee’s illness supervenes in the course of employment, emphasizing the presumption of causal connection in favor of the claimant.
**Class Notes:**
– Compensability of Illness under Workmen’s Compensation Act: An illness is compensable if it is caused or aggravated by employment conditions.
– Presumption of Causal Connection: The presumption of causal connection favors the claimant once it is established that the illness supervened in the course of employment. The employer bears the burden to prove otherwise.
– Role of Working Conditions: Employment does not need to be the sole factor in the development of an illness. Contributing to its development or aggravation suffices for compensation.
**Historical Background:** This case underscores the evolving jurisprudence on workers’ compensation in the Philippines, highlighting the judiciary’s role in interpreting the Workmen’s Compensation Act in favor of protecting workers’ health and safety. It reflects the legal system’s recognition of the complexities surrounding occupational diseases and the effects of workplace environments on workers’ health, emphasizing a progressive approach towards employee welfare and rights.
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