THE Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) is closely monitoring the arrivals of migrant sugar workers "sacadas" into the province from other parts of the country.

Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, head of the PIMT, revealed Sunday, October 25, 2020, that they are taking extra precautions amid the coronavirus disease pandemic. The province will not allow "sacadas" from other parts of the country if they do not undergo Covid-19 tests.

Caelian said they have instructed the Philippine Coast Guard not to allow migratory workers to board vessels bound for the province without the requirements.

“There are 1,808 migratory workers from Antique who recently arrived in Negros Occidental for the harvest season. Eight of them were found to be coronavirus-positive,” he said.

Majority of the sacadas work as cane cutters in the province.

Caelian said the workers need to be swabbed for Covid-19 tests upon arrival in Negros Occidental.

They also have to be quarantined in farm quarters until their test results are out, he said.

The province is expecting around 3,000 more migratory workers to arrive.

Caelian called on the contractors that bring these migratory workers to the province to follow health protocols to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.