Support for sugar workers a welcome initiative -- DAR exec
The support for sugar workers announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Labor Day rites is a welcome initiative, according to Department of Agrarian Reform Officer II Delfa Gentica Banga.
Banga said that President Arroyo's announcement for the government to set up Php 25 million worth of livelihood centers for sugar workers in three regions including Western Visayas and another P12.6 million fund for socio-economic programs is necessary to uplift their standard of living.
She said that during their focused group discussion with about 40 couples who are sugar workers in the Agrarian Reform Communities of Sto. Tomas, Passi City and Cubay-Dumiles in San Enrique of Iloilo province, they learned that the sugar farmers' household average income per year is only P85,000.
This is even a little bit better as compared to the farm laborers' household income which is P40,000 per year.
Banga said this is the reason they really need support from the government.
In Western Visayas, the two provinces that are in need to elevate the plight of their sugar workers are Negros Occidental and Antique. Negros Occidental is being greatly affected by child labor while Antique has a problem on sugar migrants or sacadas.
Antique Governor Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, however, is trying her best to address this problem by providing livelihood programs to her constituents so they need not go to Negros Occidental and other places to work on sugar lands anymore.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Raul Anlocotan added that since the work in sugar lands is only seasonal, the setting up of livelihood centers and socio-economic programs for sugar workers could help them cope with their economic difficulties.
He said that if there is no work in the sugar lands then the workers could engage in other livelihood projects like their one-town-one-product (OTOP) progam, which is very practical and could increase their income.
(PNA)