Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte met with the sacadas or migrant sugar laborers from Antique working in the sugarcane fields of Negros Occidental during her visit to the province on Thursday.

Duterte joined Governor Rhodora Cadiao during the “Bisita Sacada”, an annual activity of the Antique provincial government in the province, hosted this year by La Castellana town led by Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan.

“We brought the message of education and peace. We joined them to ask how they are, to greet them a Merry Christmas, and we also distributed gifts. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to talk to them. I was also able to campaign against the New People’s Army because we know there are still a few of them here in Negros Island,” she said in an interview with reporters at the Provincial Capitol here.

Through the “Bisita Sacada”, the Antique provincial government brings services to migrant sugar workers during the Christmas season and consults with Negros Occidental government officials and sugar plantation owners to improve the laborers’ working conditions.

Duterte said she also met with representatives from various sectors in this city.

At the Capitol, the Vice President met with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, along with Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko of the Third District and Rommel Debulgado of the First District.

“Kamustahan lang walang napag-usapan na trabaho. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng mga kababayan namin dito sa Negros Occidental sa kanilang patuloy na suporta sa akin personal at sa trabaho ng opisina ng Pangalawang Pangulo, at ang suporta nila sa ating mga guro at mag-aaral (We just said hello. There was no talk about work. I thank our fellow Filipinos here in Negros Occidental for their continued support to me and to the work of the Office of the Vice President, and to their support to the teachers and learners)” Duterte said. (PNA)