For 19 years, the sugarcane field became the source of income for the family of Maribel Lincuran, a field worker from Sampaga, Balayan, Batangas. But after the recent closure of the Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc. (CADPI) Sugar Mill, the second biggest raw sugar producer in Luzon, Maribel’s day-to-day income drastically changed. “Ang anak ko hindi na nakakapasok sa school dahil sa wala na po talaga. Wala kaming kinikita. Noon, hindi kami nagugutom. Ngayon po, nagtatabas pa rin po kahit gutom na. Wala po kaming ibang trabaho,” she narrated.

To provide assistance to affected sugarcane field workers like Maribel, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. IV-A through its Batangas Provincial Office (DOLE-BPO) implemented its emergency employment program, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD.

Last March 17, 456 sugarcane fieldworkers from the municipalities of Balayan, Nasugbu, Tuy, and City of Calaca received their PHP 4,700.00 salaries after the 10-day emergency employment program of the Department.

“Malaking tulong po. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa TUPAD, makakabili po kami ng bigas,” Maribel remarked.

38 year-old Eduardo Bocaya, also shared his outpouring gratitude for the Department’s aid for his family.

Bocaya said that for nearly ten years, working in the sugarcane field has always been the primary source of income for their family.

But since the closure of the milling plant, their family encountered debt over debt to survive their everyday needs. “Malaking tulong po ito...Makakatulong po sa mga anak ko, sa pagpasok [nila]...Maraming marami pong salamat sa DOLE TUPAD,” Bocaya shared.

DOLE-BPO Senior Labor and Employment Officer, Mr. Darius Allan Lubis, and Labor and Employment Officer III, Ms. Salvacion Kalalo led the recently conducted payout. Aside from TUPAD, DOLE is also set to release livelihood packages to affected workers and planters.


by:

APRIL ROSE N. MAGPANTAY
LEO III