Municipal Administrator Lawyer Elisa Evangelista-LapiΓ±a earlier sought the help of Senator Imee Marcos for financial assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Office.
Each worker of the United Pantaron Banana Workers Union (UPBWU) received P3,000 cash assistance.
βGibuhat nato kini kay tungod gusto nato matabangan ang mga trabahante sa Barangay Pantaron. Aside sa pandemic, naga-atubang sila og problema na lalum ang ugat tungod sa labor exploitation,β the mayor said.
He said the Pantaron banana workers were also affected by the crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evangelista believed that it is high time that Santo Tomas must have a local ordinance to address the major challenges being faced by the small banana growers and plantation workers including diseases and government regulations.
He said he had already submitted two endorsements before the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice-Mayor Gabriel Eric Estela and under the Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Councilor Eduardo Llorente, Committee on Trade and Commerce chaired by Councilor Cromwell Cocamas, and other related committees.
LapiΓ±a , meanwhile said that her office and the legal team from Dangpanan ni Tomas will assist the βPantaron 169β by providing legal assistance to address the various labor issues and concerns.
She said her office is engaging with various agencies to ferret out the truth, vowing that the Evangelista administration would liberate the exploited workers from labor exploitation.
She thanked Marcos and Governor Edwin Jubahib for the assistance extended to the exploited banana workers in the town.
Photos: Santo Tomas MIO
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