The 3,400 sugar migrant workers (sacadas) from Antique who are working in sugar plantations in Negros Occidental are safe and well-taken care of by their contractors amid a series of armed encounters between government troopers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City in the same province.

The provincial government’s Sacada Desk is regularly checking their condition while coordinating the visit of Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao this November.

“There are 80 sugar plantations or haciendas where our Antiqueño sacadas are right now working in Negros Occidental,” Randy Ardeño, Sacada Desk in-charge and now in the province, said in an interview on Friday.

Ardeño assured the safety of all sacadas working in the plantations in Himamaylan City where there is an armed conflict or series of encounters between the Philippine Army and NPA rebels.

“The armed conflict happened in the upland area in Himamaylan City and quite far from where the sacadas work,” he said.

Ardeño added that they were nonetheless instructed to immediately coordinate with the Sacada Desk in case of a crisis or if a problem arises.

He said Cadiao would visit sugar plantations in Negros Occidental on November 15 to 18, bringing with her grocery items, rice, and other goods to cheer the sugar migrant workers during the Christmas season.

There will also be a provincial health team from Antique to conduct health checkups among the sacadas.

“The governor has already been doing the ‘Bisita Sacada’ or annual visit to the sacadas for the past eight years,” Ardeño said.

He said the visit was only halted in the past two years because of the surge in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections and movement restriction was implemented. (PNA)