BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government will require migrant sugarcane workers (MSWs) to submit a coronavirus virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination card or certificate when entering the province for the start of the new crop year in September.
In Executive Order 22-35 issued on Wednesday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson outlined the guidelines for returning migrant workers from Panay island, mostly from the province of Antique.
“In light of the forthcoming sugarcane crop season for 2022 to 2023, there will be an expected influx of MSWs entering Negros Occidental hence, there is a need to issue proactive guidelines to prevent the potential surge of Covid-19 cases in the province,” the governor said.
Some 5,000 cane cutters, also known as “sacadas”, from Antique are employed every year in sugarcane plantations in Negros Occidental, the country’s top sugar-producing province.
This year, the province requires the fully vaccinated plantation workers to present a verifiable vaccination card or certificate.
Among those that will be honored are the Negros Occidental management information system vaccination card, Covid-19 domestic vaccination card duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, and an official Department of Health vaccination certificate with a quick response code.
If without verifiable vaccination cards, the MSWs will undergo a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for free upon arrival.
The provincial government will also ask individual planters to submit the list of MSWs approved by the Department of Labor and Employment for the incoming crop year.
It must include the complete names of the workers and their basic information as well as a place of assignment and preferred date of transportation to Negros Occidental.
The list will be endorsed to the provincial government for proper coordination.
Also, the planter will facilitate and provide transportation of the MSWs from their port of entry to their quarters.
Those who underwent a swab test will be brought to quarantine facilities on the farms until the results are released by the Provincial Health Office.
All positive Covid-19 cases will have to undergo quarantine. (PNA)
