SACADAS AT WORK. Antique migrant workers in a sugarcane plantation in Negros Occidental in this May 19, 2020 photo. Over 4,000 sacadas are preparing for deployment to sugar-rich Negros Occidental in time for the milling season in September.(Photo courtesy of Antique PIO) ILOILO CITY - Life in the sugarcane industry is not always sweet but small players and stakeholders in Iloilo persevere as it has been "the most favorable crop" that has sustained the province even through this pandemic. The sugarcane industry is almost a PHP10-billion industry in Iloilo taking into account the fuel, fertilizer, truck parts, equipment, and labor, among others that are involved in the production chain, according to Iloilo Board Member Matt Palabrica on Friday. Palabrica has been championing the cause of farmers including that of sugarcane planters in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. During the pandemic, the money that circulated in Iloilo under the sugarcane industry alone reached almost PHP10 bi
INSURANCE. Antique's sugar migrant workers show their identification cards issued by the Sacada Desk before their departure to work in the sugar plantations of Negros Occidental on Sept. 10, 2021. Randy Ardeno, in charge of the Sacada Desk, said in an interview on Friday (Jan. 7, 2022) that the provincial government of Antique has provided the "sacadas" with various support, including requiring their contractors to provide them with Social Security System insurance.(Photo courtesy of Sacada Desk) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The year 2021 saw about 4,203 active sugar migrant workers or "sacadas" from this province get enrolled in the Social Security System (SSS). Randy Ardeno, in charge of the Sacada Desk of the Antique Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), said in an interview Friday that last year, upon the direction of Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, the long-coveted dream of the "sacadas" to be enrolled in the SSS was made a requireme
SWEET OFFER. Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao meets with sugar migrant workers or sacadas in Negros Occidental during the annual Bisita Sacada from Dec. 3 to 5, 2021. Randy Ardeno, in-charge of the Sacada Desk of Antique, said on Tuesday (December 7) that the provincial government is now pushing to offer financial support for the education of the children of sugar migrant workers in Negros Occidental.(Photo courtesy of Sacada Desk Antique) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The Antique provincial government is now pushing to provide support to the education of the children of sugar migrant workers (sacadas) to enable them to finish their studies. The need for financial support for the education of the children was raised during the "Bisita Sacada" or annual visit of Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao to sugar migrant workers in Negros Occidental from Dec.3 to 5, 2021, Randy Ardeno, in-charge of the sacada desk of Antique provincial government, said on Tuesday. Currently, Ardeno said
MIGRANT SUGAR WORKERS. A consultation with sugar migrant workers in the municipality of Tibiao in April 2021. Sacada Desk in charge Randy Ardeno said on Tuesday (Oct. 12, 2021) that Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao and other provincial officials will be going to Negros Occidental this November for the yearly "Bisita Sacada" to bring early Christmas joy to the sugar migrant workers.(Photo courtesy of Antique Provincial Board Member Karmila Rose Dimamay) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The provincial government here is now preparing to resume the "Bisita Sacada", or the visit to its migrant sugar workers in Negros Occidental, in the second week of November. The annual activity was temporarily stopped last year due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), said Randy Ardeno, in charge of the Sacada Desk of the provincial government, in an interview Tuesday. "Governor Rhodora Cadiao together with the other officials of the province will be visiting the Antiqueno