AMENDATORY GUIDELINES ON THE FILING AND PAYMENT OF THE SUGAR WORKERS MATERNITY BENEFIT PROGRAM

In as much as the Sugar Workers Maternity Benefit Program
is intended to assist female workers in defraying expenses incurred at
the time of delivery, abortion or miscarriage, the benefits thereto
shall be made available prior to the said delivery, abortion or
miscarriage subject to the following guidelines:

SECTION 1.        A maternity benefit claim shall be filed
with the DOLE Regional Office, or with any planters’
association/cooperative or sugar mill through their respective
accredited pre-processors having jurisdiction over the workplace or
place of residence of the covered woman sugar worker on the 7th month of
her pregnancy in consonance with the following conditions:

1.1.      A claim application shall be supported by the following requirements:

a)      Original/duly-authenticated doctor’s certificate attesting to the fact of pregnancy.

b)      Original/certified true copy of latest cash bonus
payroll or payslip envelope. In the absence thereof of said copy, the
file copy of the DOLE Regional Office shall be recopied and
authenticated by the WAWD Chief which shall be attached to application
form.

c)      Original/certified true copy of the Certificate of
Employment. In the absence thereof, a certification from the SAP officer
may be secured to certify the employment of the claimant for maternity
benefit based on the latest SAB payroll/payslip/envelope submitted to
DOLE-Regional Office by the millers/planters.

SECTION 2.        In case of abortion or miscarriage prior
to the 7th month of pregnancy, the existing requirements and procedures
under the Operating Guidelines for the Sugar Workers Maternity Benefit
Program shall be followed.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 12 April 2000

(SGD.) BIENVENIDO E. LAGUESMA
Secretary