SUGAR workers belonging to the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held a rally Tuesday, August 24, to demand the end of Tiempo Muerto or dead season in the sugar industry.

The sugar workers held the rally beside the Old Provincial Capitol building along North Capitol Road.

John Losande, secretary general of NFSW, said in a statement that they want a dialog with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to address the worsening hunger and poverty during the Tiempo Muerto from May to September every year.

Tiempo Muerto happens in the province when sugar centrals stop milling and the cultivation of the sugarcane plantations are already done, leaving the sugar workers with no work.

The sugar workers said the situation worsened due to the quarry and mining operations in the province, wherein on January 20, 2021, they experienced a flashflood that washed out their rice fields and affected their livelihood.

On the assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sugar workers claim that several of them did not receive financial assistance under the Bayanihan Act 1 and 2.

They are seeking the attention of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) about the complaints against barangays having unliquidated projects from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The associations, they said, cannot avail themselves of the projects from DOLE because some barangays failed to liquidate and update reports of the projects from DOLE.

They are also asking for a Board Resolution from Provincial Board to address the effect of Tiempo Puerto, livelihood projects and assistance.

Danilo Tabora, secretary general of KMU, said Lacson sent Renelo Lastiere, head of Capitol Securitym who pledged to give them rice assistance.