Negros Occidental Representative Emilio Yulo III urges national government intervention to address plummeting sugar farmgate prices. Yulo emphasizes the urgent need to support small farmers, who make up 80% of the industry, as prices dip below production costs. He proposes government purchase of sugar from producers to stabilize prices and alleviate their losses. Stakeholders warn of dire consequences for labor and the industry if the downward trend persists. Various sugar planters' groups appeal for intervention from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. amid concerns over the impact on farmers and workers.
SunStar Labor: No vaccination, no work policy a source of confusion, discouragement
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL. For the local labor sector, the “no vaccination, no work policy” is a source of confusion and discouragement. (PNA photo)
+ March 04, 2021 AN IRRITATING sense of confusion and discouragement is now boiling up among the labor sector on the unconfirmed reports of the alleged no vaccination, no work policy circulating, a local labor leader said.
Wennie Sancho, secretary general of General Alliance of Workers Association (Gawa), said though this was already denied by Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III recently, official government confirmation is necessary to allay the fears of workers in the midst of economic adversity.