LABOR Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz ordered the release of P3.532 million for socioeconomic projects aimed at helping sugar workers in Negros Occidental augment their income during the lean season.

She said some 5,200 sugar workers and their families in the First Farmers and La Carlota milling districts in Negros Occidental will benefit from the funds that will be sourced from the Sugar Industry Foundation Inc. (Sifi).

The labor chief signed Resolution 12 of the Sugar Tripartite Council that seeks the release of the P3.532 million. The amount will be sourced from the forfeited, unclaimed and undistributed cash bonus fund of sugar workers or planter members affiliated with the Confederation of Sugar Producers Inc., whose social arm is the Sifi.

“The fund is going to finance the food-for-work project at the First Farmers Mill District and the temporary employment of displaced sugar farm workers through the elevation of overflow bridge in Barangay RSB in La Carlota Mill District,” Baldoz said in a statement on Tuesday.

She said sugar workers and their families will benefit from the funds during the lean season when remunerative jobs are scarce in almost all the sugar-cane plantations in Negros Occidental. 

She said Sifi attached groups—First Farmers Association and the Association de Agricultores De La Carlota Y Pontevedra Inc.—will provide a counterpart fund worth P3.599 million for the two projects.

The labor department is authorized to implement socioeconomic projects for the sugar workers under the Social Amelioration Program in the sugar industry.

“Without jobs, sugar workers are without income and there would be no food available for their families. Many children of sugar workers also stop schooling. Workers find it hard to look for other jobs as their employable skills are limited,” said Baldoz.