ONE slogan painted on the wall by the non-conformists state, "Election changes nothing." To some, it is not true. Election allows us to change our barangay captain, mayor, governor, congressman and other officials in public office. For the hacienda workers, this "rallying cry" could mean something.
In the past (60s and 70s), hacienda workers did not have much of a choice. Those running for public office in towns and cities have hacendero friends. It has been tested and proven that a hacienda vote can make public officials. The favored politicians of the hacenderos always win. We are reminded by "vote or gabot." (Vote for the candidates of the hacenderos, or else your house will be uprooted.)
Some political analysts believe that it could no longer happen now. (Tell that to the marines!) In the semi-feudal structure of Negros in the past, that happened. In the time of the third generation hacenderos, we have to wait and see. Someone has to prove that it could not happen again.
The hacendero can always persuade his workers to vote for his chosen candidates. He can always explain the advantage by telling them that he is related to candidates x, y, z and it would be easy for him to ask for help from them. That could be true even candidates x, y, z are not very qualified.
Personally, I have nothing against the candidates of the sugarcane planters. I just want to see a concrete program of any political party showing genuine concern for the plight of the hacienda workers. Is it hard to say that a local government should involve sugarcane planters in the socio-economic program for the workers?
A portion of the hacienda could be provided for group farming just like "kibbutz" in Israel. The local officials and their hacendero friends should see to it that each family of a hacienda worker should have a backyard garden. The cooperative program of the towns, cities, and the province should be made available for the hacienda workers.
The efficient cooperative program could provide livelihood and educational loans. The only way for the hacienda workers to attain human growth and development is to give their children the opportunity to be educated properly. Proper education is a must. To the children who love vocational courses, Tesda and the livelihood training office of the LGUs could help a lot. Above all, a maximum salary should be provided.
We fully understand that our sugar industry is facing uncertainty. Let us not just wait for the fate of this industry. Let us now create a solution for the survival of our hacienda workers. We challenge our candidates for the 2019 election to come up with a credible platform that would revitalize our brothers in the haciendas.
Negros is a sugar province. We cannot afford to be bitter with our hacienda workers. Let us vote for candidates who have serious programs for the workers who sweetened our province.
