SAN JOSE, Antique – A total of 868 sugar migrants, locally known as sacadas, in this province who lost their job due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic are expected to benefit from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) emergency employment program.
Provincial government sacada desk in-charge Randy Ardeño said the applications of those qualified to avail themselves of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) program have been submitted to the DOLE provincial office Friday last week.
“The 868 sacadas are from the 13 municipalities of this province,” said Ardeño.
He added there are no qualified sugar migrants in the five remaining municipalities in this province because they have either availed themselves of financial assistance under the Social Amelioration Program or Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
A total of 1,698 sacadas have returned home from Negros Occidental after Antique opened its doors to locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
DOLE provincial director Melissa Navarra, for her part, said it will be the local government units that will provide a certificate of completion – 10 days of work required – to the sugar migrants before the beneficiaries may get their pay.
The type of work sacadas will do will be decided by the LGUs. However, there is no final date yet as to when the emergency program will start.
“Sacadas could receive P395 daily wage” which will be paid through money remittance, said Navarra.
Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, meanwhile, requested her municipal mayors during their meeting last week to assist the sugar migrants in finding livelihood in their localities. (With a report from PNA/PN)
