Antique’s provincial government is partnering with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide skills training to local sugar migrants, locally known as sacadas, and their families.

Antique Provincial Board Member Pio Jessielito Sumande Sr. said Tuesday they approved the intent of TESDA, through acting Provincial Director Agnes Dimzon, of entering into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the provincial government for the implementation of the “Gulayan sa Barangay” and other skills training program for the sacadas and their families during their regular session on Monday.

“The provincial government would like for sacadas to avail of the skills training on how to plant high-value crops so that they would have an alternative source of income,” Sumande said in an interview.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao inquired with TESDA on how the sacadas could get assistance for their livelihood about a month ago, he added.

Sumande said they hope to seal the partnership by the end of this month.

In a separate interview, Dimzon said they offer agri-related skills training, such as agricultural crop production and urban gardening, that sacadas could avail and use as an alternative source of income.

“We intend to start with one or two batches of trainees after the MOA signing,” she said.

She said a batch could accommodate at least 25 sacadas interested in undergoing a 30-day training with TESDA providing a daily allowance of PHP160.

The trainees will also undergo assessment after they train to get a National Certificate.

Sumande said the provincial government, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA), would provide sacadas with their needed seeds, tools, and water pumps that they could use to get water from the deep wells even during summer months.

The provincial board on Monday also approved a resolution urging the conduct of medical and dental mission for sacadas.

Board Member Rony Molina, who sponsored the resolution, said about 4,000 Antique sacadas work in Negros Occidental during the milling season and could hardly avail of medical or dental check-ups before they leave for work because of their financial difficulty. (PNA)