First batch of sacadas negative for COVID

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  • MITCH M. LIPA

All 35 migratory sugarcane workers, or sacadas, from Antique – the first group that arrived in Negros Occidental last week – have been released to the planters who hired them, after they tested negative in the RT-PCR tests.

The swab upon arrival is one of the requirements before these MSWs will be allowed to work in Negros.

Sugar Regulatory Administration board member, Atty. Dino Yulo, said there are about 3,000 MSWs grouped in batches coming to Negros this month to augment local cane cutters, with the start of the milling season.

Planters hire migratory sugarcane workers every year to augment local cane cutters during milling season. | PNA Photo

The hiring is through a contractor, who facilitates the recruitment in Antique and complies with the requirements set by the Department of Labor and the provincial government.

Yulo said this is the second year that the sugar planters pay for the RT-PCR tests of the MSWs they hire. Negros Occidental is collecting P1,500 as “donation” for every MSW. After the testing, the workers are held in a quarantine facility of the province or their respective quarters in the hacienda. If the swab result turned negative for COVID, they can start work as cane cutters.

Yulo said the MSWs will work in Kabankalan, Isabela, La Castellana, and Magallon where vast plantations are located and the sugarcane ready for harvest.

The second batch, composed of more than a hundred MSWs, is now facilitating the permits to travel from their province of origin. Anytime this week, they will arrive in Negros Occidental and will immediately undergo RT-PCR tests, Yulo said.

Those found positive will be immediately isolated for 14 days. Last year, eight MSWs tested positive for COVID.

Yulo said the cane cutters will stay for five months in Negros for daily cane cutting jobs. SRA records show that there are around 200,000 hectares of sugarcane plantation harvestable this milling season.

Yulo said Negros Occidental lacks cane cutters because some male farm workers prefer to work in the construction and other industries in the urban center. The MSWs will augment the existing number of local cane cutters since any delay in the harvest of sugarcane will also delay bringing this to the mill and will affect the quality of the extracted juice. — MML