ANTIQUE Governor Rhodora Cadiao called for the continued protection of the welfare of “sacadas” or migrant sugarcane workers from their province who work in large plantations in Negros Occidental.
“Please help care for our sacadas...We don’t deny them the opportunity to work here. You need them and they also need a livelihood,” the governor said in a press conference in Bacolod City Friday.
However, Cadiao stressed the need to protect the sacadas from abuse and exploitation, particularly from contractors.
She said protecting the welfare of the seasonal workers is a priority of her administration, and part of the initiatives of the Bisita Sacada 2016, where she and her team met with 301 sacadas working in three cities in the province.
During her trip to Negros Occidental this week, Cadiao met with Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City, Neil Lizares of Talisay City, and Mark Golez of Silay City.
“I am happy that the three mayors have expressed support (to our program),” the governor said.
Marañon said he admires Cadiao for her efforts in going to other provinces to check the status of farm workers from Antique.
In Negros Occidental, Cadiao’s team conducted visits to various haciendas from Nov. 22 to 24.
On Nov. 22, they went to Hacienda Manayao-sayao, Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod where they met with 50 sacadas under milling supervisor Rodel Oliveros;
Nov. 23, Hacienda San Antonio, Barangay Dos Hermanas, 25 sacadas under Alex Importante; Hacienda Teresita, Barangay Dos Hermanas, 57 sacadas under Eddie Fernando; and Hacienda Gloria and Paz, Barangay Bagacay, 50 sacadas under Marcos Untalan Jr., all in Talisay; and,
Nov. 24, Hacienda Imelda, Barangay E. Lopez, 45 sacadas under Minerva Flores; Hacienda Bagacay, Barangay Bagtic, 42 sacadas under Amelyn Samsona; and Hacienda Puyas I, Barangay Bagtic, 32 sacadas under Fedencia Galos, all in Silay.
During the visits, Cadiao was also joined by Dr. Leoncio Abiera Jr., medical officer of Provincial Health Office, and Lazaro Petinglay, provincial social welfare and development officer.
The Antique governor said her visits aim to check the living conditions of the sacadas, ensure that they are covered by Philippine Health Insurance Corp. benefits, and monitor the haciendas’ compliance not to allow women and children in the sacadas’ quarters.
They also conducted a medical mission and spiritual upliftment, and distributed food stuff the 301 workers.
The sacadas are considered seasonal migrant workers since they are contracted to do harvest work during the sugar milling season usually from September to February.
Cadiao said that figures of the Department of Labor and Employment showed there are 4,000 documented sacadas in Negros Occidental although there are actually up to 10,000 of them who are working in the province.
In Antique, the provincial government has set up a Sacada Desk, and has allotted P3 million for the livelihood assistance of the sacadas. (with reports from PNA)