• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total of 3,815 sugarcane workers affected by Typhoon Tino have received financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through its Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
The DOLE-Negros Island Region (DOLE-NIR) report said it distributed P3,657,000 as part of the first tranche of assistance under the program. The amount forms part of the P3,815,000 allocation intended for sugarcane workers from participating sugar mills in Negros Occidental.
The initial payout benefited both mill and field workers from Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM), Universal Robina Corporation (URC) SONEDCO and La Carlota, Sagay Central, Inc. (SCI), Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCO), and Victorias Milling Company (VMC), whose livelihoods were adversely affected by the typhoon.
BISCOM recorded the highest number of beneficiaries among the participating mills, where a total of 900 mill workers received assistance on April 24, with P899,000 released from the P900,000 allocation. Assistance for BISCOM field workers was distributed in two batches, with 483 workers receiving P475,000 on April 29 and another 300 workers receiving P266,000 on May 13.
URC SONEDCO provided assistance to 520 mill workers, releasing P482,000 from its P520,000 allocation. Meanwhile, URC La Carlota distributed P315,000 to 324 mill workers and P154,000 to 158 field workers.
SCI completed the distribution of assistance to its 322 mill worker beneficiaries, releasing P321,000. HPCO also distributed P296,000 to 308 mill workers, while VMC released P449,000 to its 500 mill worker beneficiaries.
DOLE-NIR emphasized that the current distribution covers only the initial phase of the program. Additional releases to other sugar mills and qualified beneficiaries are expected in the coming weeks as validation and coordination efforts continue.
The agency assured sugarcane workers and stakeholders that it remains committed to facilitating the timely release of assistance, particularly to workers whose income and employment were disrupted by Typhoon Tino.
Through the Social Amelioration Program, DOLE-NIR said it continues to support the welfare of sugarcane workers by providing immediate financial relief and helping affected communities recover from the impact of natural calamities.*
