CDC, PARTNERS INAUGURATE AETA FAMILY CARE CENTER IN TARLAC

BY KEVIN GALANG

CLARK Development Corporation and its partners inaugurated the fifth Aeta family care center at Sitio Burog, San Vicente, Bamban, Tarlac province on April 16.

The recent completion of five family care centers in the ancestral domain amounting to P46 million underscored the commitment of the government and its partners to holistic community development.

The Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. (BCFI) funded these multi-purpose buildings with the aim of providing basic education and other social services for Aeta indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples and supporting ancestral domain development.

At the inauguration event for the CDC, BCFI, Operation Brotherhood Montessori Family Care Center, CDC president and CEO attorney Agnes VST Devanadera expressed her belief that the project was heaven-sent.

“Let us be thankful to the Lord for this family care center in this barangay. For me, I think this is a great blessing. This project is heaven-sent,” Devanadera said.

“There are thousands of barangays in the Philippines, and San Vicente is one of the few places blessed to have a family care center,” Devanadera added.

The five family care centers will provide basic education and other social services for Aetas.

Established within the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) 025-A area, other centers are located in Marcos Village, Sitio Calapi, Mabalacat City, Pampanga, and Sto. Niño and San Vicente in Bamban, Tarlac.

The CDC worked closely with the concerned local government units (LGUs) for project execution. In reciprocity, the LGUs will provide logistical support and contribute to the teachers’ honorarium.

Since 2019, 174 individuals graduated from the program, benefiting along with their families, and there are currently 93 enrolled students.