On August 1, 2,810, Batangas sugar workers affected by the closure of Central Azucarera de Don Pedro (CADPI) received the financial assistance that had fought for since last year. Among those who receieved assistance of ₱10,000 are from the third and some among the fourth batches who submitted documents to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the AKAP or Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program.

The distribution of financial aid was carried out in the towns of Tuy, Balayan and Lemery.

In Balayan, the coordinator of SUGAR in the town, Francis Nalog, shared how they had to go through in order to avail of the aid. Amihan general secretary Cathy Estavillo attended the meeting and discussed the national situation of farmers, sugarcane farmers and agricultural workers.

In Tuy, Charlie Lopez of Calaca led the discussion. Sarah Elago from the Gabriela Women’s Party attended and expressed her solidarity in the meeting.

Meanwhile, SUGAR-Batangas is disappointed because members of the government’s 4Ps and senior citizens who are already receiving social pensions did not receive help. The group promised that they will not stop fighting for their benefits.

Social Welfare and Development-Batangas promised the sugar workers that it will refer the matter to the DSWD leadership. Local government officials were on hand to assist the SUGAR-Batangas and farmers in the distribution of the delayed aid.

The campaign for aid was led by SUGAR-Batangas and the Union of Agricultural Workers (UMA Pilipinas) in coordination with Gabriela Women’s Party Representative and senatorial candidate of the Makabayan Coalition, Arlene Brosas.

Rep. Brosas pushed for the distribution of aid following their filing of a resolution in Congress in February 2023 to investigate the closure of CADPI and affected farm workers. The sugar factory closed in December 2022.

An estimated 12,000 farm workers and over 7,000 small planters lost their livelihoods due to the closure of CADPI. This greatly affected the planters in Batangas because the remaining sugar mills in the province could only absord 4,500 metric tons of sugar per day compared to CADPI’s capacity of 12,000 metric tons per day. In the forecast for 2020, CADPI included the harvested sugarcane from 10,980 hectares in the province.

According to SUGAR-Batangas, there are still up to 7,000 growers who have not yet received financial assistance. Last July 10, up to 3,000 farmers rallied in Batangas City to demand the distribution of aid earmarked for them. As a result of the action, the DSWD accepted the farmers’ papers and promised to process the 5th batch.