- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma has authorized the release of P6.4 million in maternity and death benefit claims of sugar workers in Negros Occidental.
In DOLE Administrative Order 318, signed by Laguesma Oct. 4 and made public Oct. 16, the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) has been authorized to process the release of additional reserve funds of P2.24 million for the 280 maternity benefit claims in DOLE Negros Occidental, and P4.2 million to fund the 300 death benefit claims of sugar workers, also in the province.
The allocation was part of the P6.8 million in maternity benefits, and P11.76 million in death benefits of sugar workers all over the country under the additional Social Amelioration Program (SAP) funds.
Aside from Negros Occidental, Laguesma said the additional reserve funds will also be allocated to the DOLE Iloilo provincial office and regional offices 2, 3, 4A, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12.
“The directive aims to guarantee the availability of reserve funds for the implementation of these benefits, in response to DOLE Department Order No. 236 issued in 2022, which increased the maternity benefit for sugar workers from P5,000 to P8,000, and the death benefit from P10,000 to P14,000,” he added in a statement.
The AO further allocates additional funds to DOLE Regional Office 2 and DOLE Negros Occidental Provincial Office for 50 claims per program component to sugarcane-based bioethanol workers under the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program for Workers in the Biofuels Industry.
The funds shall be replenished by the BWSC, based on the actual number of monthly benefit claims processed in the respective DOLE regional/provincial offices, subject to the usual government accounting and auditing rules and regulations, the statement added.
The DOLE said it continuously strengthens initiatives for the country’s most vulnerable workers, including those in the sugar mill, sugarcane field, and even the migratory sugarcane workers, known as sacadas, to promote inclusive and equitable social protection for all workers.
The SAP, funded by the lien or levy imposed on the gross production of sugar, aims to augment the income of the sugar workers, and finance programs for their livelihood and well-being.
The DOLE said 20 percent of the collected lien is allocated for the socio-economic project component of the SAP, and distributed as maternity benefit fund at three percent, death benefit fund – five percent, socio-economic project fund – nine percent, and the remaining three percent for SAP administrative and operating expenses.
The DOLE in Western Visayas also earlier said it released the three percent lien on sugar production, amounting to P284.9 million, to the different planters’ associations in Negros. The amount covered the workers’ share in the total production for crop year 2022-2023.
DOLE 6 regional director, Atty. Sixto “Popoy” Rodriguez Jr., assisted by SAP focal Nona Grace Gamboa, turned over the checks to representatives of the Binalbagan-Isabela Planters Association, amounting to P80 million, Planters Association of Southern Negros Inc. P76 million, Independent Planters of Biscom Inc. – P66 million, Negros Occidental Farmers Association – P32 million, and the United Farmers Association of Negros-South Inc. – P29 million./CGC
