Bacolod City, Negros Occ. (PNA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) is set to help sugar workers become entrepreneurs in an effort to help them brace for any critical conditions once the economic integration of ASEAN takes place with the realization of the ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2015.
Part of such effort by DOLE for workers in the sugar industry is by conducting skills training aimed at creating livelihood opportunities for sugar workers.
This was disclosed recently by DOLE-BWSC Director Ahmma Charisma L. Satumba during the First Quarter Joint District Tripartite Councils (DTC) meeting and orientation/reorientation on the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) held at the Sugar Workers Development Center in Bacolod City. Said activity was attended by some 65 mill, planters association and field workers’ representatives from the eight milling districts in Negros Occidental.
To recall, the sugar industry’s SAP was started in early 1970s when some sugar planters voluntarily contributed to set up a fund that can be used to uplift the living conditions of their workers. It was institutionalized in 1974 through Presidential Decree No. 621 and enhanced further through Republic Act No. 6982 in 1991, by expanding sugar workers’ benefits and the establishment of tripartite mechanisms for the participation of planters, millers and workers in policy decision making.
Meanwhile, Satumba said that during the last DTC meeting, the BWSC proposed to come up with a human resource development master plan the primary objective of which is to train and educate sugar workers, help them to become entrepreneurs in preparation for the 2015 ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). This is because the Philippine sugar industry is expected to be substantially affected with the implementation of zero tariff rates on sugar, once the country, being a member of the ASEAN, is integrated into the ASEAN Economic Community next year.
She also said that the BWSC has proposed providing emergency employment of sugar workers affected by super typhoon Yolanda as additional aid to help them recuperate from the ravages of the calamity.

Source: Manila Bulletin - February 20, 2014