To ensure that the Aetas of Porac town will no longer go to the cities to beg during the Christmas season, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian distributed 60 carabaos, 30 garetas (carabao-drawn carts), and other farm implements as part of the livelihood support for the indigenous people.
The President and Secretary Gatchalian on Friday (October 3) visited the Aeta community in Katutubo Village, Barangay Planas in Porac, Pampanga where they also distributed Php10,000 cash assistance as augmentation support for their daily needs.
Speaking before the 127 Aeta beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program, President Marcos Jr. stressed the importance of the Aeta community‘s participation in the agricultural sector.
“Iyong sinasaka ninyo, ‘yung tinatanim ninyo, ‘yung inaani ninyo ay kasama po ‘yan sa pagpakain ng lahat ng mga Pilipino. Kaya napakahalaga ng inyong sektor ng agrikultura at kailangan na kailangan, lalong-lalo na dahil dito medyo bago-bago pa itong komunidad ay bigyan po natin – bibigyan po natin lahat ng tulong upang makaahon, upang makapagkaroon ng mga simple lang na hanapbuhay at makatulong pati sa progreso sa ating minamahal na Pilipinas,” President Marcos said in his message.
Through the Pag-abot Program, the Aetas were reached out from the streets of San Fernando City in Pampanga and they were later reintegrated into their respective sitios in Porac town.
Rambo Mañalac Serrano, one of the Aeta beneficiaries, said he will use the DSWD assistance provided to their family to plant root crops.
“Yung ibibigay pong kalabaw po, gagamitin namin na pang-araro para mayroon panghanapbuhay kaming pamilya…kung may kalabaw na po kami pwede na po kaming magtanim ng mga kamoteng kahoy para hindi na po kami naglalakad,” a smiling Rambo said.
The Aeta member also thanked the Marcos administration for the support given to their community members.
“Maraming salamat po sa DSWD at kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos,” Rambo happily said.
The Pag-abot Program provides short-term and long-term interventions for families and individuals in street situations (FISS) to get them off the streets and help them live sustained and dignified lives.
The Aetas are among the sectors that the Pag-abot Program endeavors to reach out. They are known as one of the Indigenous Peoples groups who often go to urban centers, especially during the holiday season, to beg and solicit money.
Secretary Gatchalian explained that the Department has been reaching out directly to communities that often travel to Metro Manila, especially during the holidays.
Through the Pag-abot Program, complemented by other programs of the DSWD, the agency has provided carabaos and farming tools to the Aeta communities.
“So that’s why nag-aakyat kami ng mga kalabaw, mga ibang farming inputs ngayon sa Pampanga and Tarlac in these Aeta communities to make sure na preemptive. Wag na po kayong bumaba during Christmas, doon na tayo maghanap buhay,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Secretary Gatchalian said similar efforts are underway for Badjao communities in Zamboanga, noting that the Department is intensifying interventions ahead of December when syndicates typically operate.
“That’s why we’re also planning to do—we’re doing it already in Zamboanga and we’re intensifying it kasi there are really syndicated groups that operate during this season, but we’ll try to do the preventive and the proactive step before December strikes,” the DSWD chief said. (AKDL)
