FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has pledged to strengthen the agency’s agroforestry livelihood support to help indigenous Aetas in Barangay Nabuclod, Floridablanca.
During his visit to the remote upland village, Gatchalian affirmed DSWD’s commitment to empowering indigenous communities through sustainable farming and environmental programs.
In partnership with the Provincial Government, the DSWD is providing cash-for-work and food-for-work to 200 indigenous Aetas to plant additional bamboo and other high-value commercial crop seedlings.
Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda said that revolutionizing the plantation of bamboo will be prioritized, as it already has a huge market and is needed to provide supplies.
“Nabuclod is an asset because its bamboo forest has grown. We will be training the Aetas in making bamboo byproducts while we supply raw bamboo to furniture makers in Pampanga, Laguna and Cebu,” she said.
Data from the provincial government showed that 108, 872 bamboo are already planted across the 536.15-hectare portion of Aetas’ ancestral domain, which is a significant boost from the 1,260 recorded in 2012.
The area is now being eyed as a future bamboo hub, with planned infrastructure including a bamboo crafts production center and warehouse.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian urged the Aeta beneficiaries to stay committed to farming not just to alleviate, but to transform their lives.
He also vowed to go back to Barangay Nabuclod once the additional bamboos are successfully planted.
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Ranny Casupanan welcomed the initiative, saying this will motivate them to strive harder to alleviate their lives from poverty and discourage other indigenous peoples from begging.
The DSWD is also working with other agencies on the provision of technical assistance and farm inputs for the production of high-value commercial crops to complement the bamboo plantations.
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