CONFED lauds Lacson, Cadiao for Sacadas’ return

The Confederation of Sugar Producers Negros-Panay chapter praised the efforts of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao for providing safety travel mechanisms for the return of sugar cane cutters in the province.

CONFED NP Chairman, Nicolas Ledesma, Jr. said “the ease of travel for our Sacadas in coming back here to work in sugarlandia will definitely ease our problems when milling season opens this September.”

The two governors, along with Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo have agreed to start processing the travel documents for sacadas and to ensure they are legally documented for monitoring purposes. Apart from the ‘no ID, no entry’ policy agreed by the governors, all incoming cane cutters in Negros will have to present health certifications.

Ledesma added that the return of the sacadas has been foremost on the minds of the sugar planters because of strict travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. But with the agreement between Lacson and Cadiao, “these essential workers of the industry can safely go back to work.”
The provincial governments are also coordinating with Iloilo Gov. Art Defensor and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia for provisional transit documents for the workers who are expected to come in by boatloads from Iloilo.

There are an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 sacadas from Antique.
Ledesma also acknowledged the efforts of Lacson at the end of the last milling season for extending help to the sacadas who were able to go home amidst the pandemic at that time.

Rest assured, Ledesma said, that foremost on the planters’ mind as well are the safety and well-being of these workers when they start coming in.*