09 Aug 1,500 Workers Lost Their Jobs as Dole-Stanfilco Shut Down their Operation due to NPA Attacks in Surigao del Sur
A series of attacks by speculated New People’s Army (NPA) rebels made the multinational banana firm Dole-Stanfilco to shut down its operation at Barobo, Surigao del Sur and in Tagbina Town. NPA targeted its container trucks.
There are over 1,500 workers who are employed on its 400-hectare plantation.
Starting on Tuesday, Dole-Stanfilco would indefinitely shut down their operations. The company already sent a notice to the Caraga regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment.
The NPA attacked due to continuous refusal in paying the revolutionary tax. The company said it can no longer afford to incur losses because of these attacks and decided to shut down.
The burning of container trucks that transport bananas to Davao City and to be exported to foreign countries has cost P20 million loss for Dole-Stanfilco.
A few days ago, the NPA rebels detonated a truck with explosives.
The company said that from 2010, the rebels had burned a total of 19 trucks and this year they’ve lost 7 trucks already.
Early this week dismissed workers held a march-rally and blamed NPA rebels for the closure of the company. Most of them are contractual farm workers and asking what would happen to their families now that they have lost their jobs.
Concepcion Jumao-as, one of the protesters said during the rally, “Where now are their claims that they are soldiers of the masses that will look after our welfare? We are here not to fight with arms but to condemn the extortion activities of the NPAs which cost our livelihood.”
The main reason why the company decided to shut down their operation is because of the two trucks carrying container vans that exploded caused by NPA rebels, Jumao-as stated as what the company said.
“Before, they use gasoline in torching the trucks but lately they already use bombs,” Jumao-as ended.
No Comments