CLARK FREEPORT — At least 48 Aeta children in northern Clark have completed their early childhood care and development (ECCD) classes under the Pagsasarili Family Care program of the state-owned Clark Development Corp., OB Montessori and several partners.
The moving-up ceremony of daycare learners from Mabalacat City in Pampanga and Bamban town in Tarlac was held in simple rites last July 8, the CDC-Community Relations and Social Services Section said.
Now qualified to enter Kindergarten school, they belonged to the third batch who finished ECCD. The first two batches graduated a total of 77 kids since 2019, according to Rommel Narciso, CDC assistant vice president for external affairs.
Last May, the education of Aeta children in northern Clark received a big boost as the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. opened two of five learning centers it is constructing in the Sacobia sub-zone on a P47-million grant, officials said.
CDC, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Bloomberry and OB Montessori opened two Pagsasarili Family Care centers in Marcos Village in Mabalacat City, Pampanga and Sto. Niño in Bamban, Tarlac.
The Pagsasarili program has three components: pre-school education, Cacao planting for chocolate bars making and the trading post Ayta Na, according to former CDC chair Jose de Jesus who began the corporate social responsibility program in 2019. He continued to support the program by serving as a consultant.
Three more structures are being built in Sitio Calapi, also in Marcos Village and Sitios Burog and San Martin, both in Bamban, CDC chair Edgardo Pamintuam said.
De Jesus said the Pagsasarili program helps the CDC and Aetas to “develop trust” while its pre-school education component prepares the Aeta children in learning.
