Close to 2,000 employees of the provincial capitol led by Governor Lilia G. Pineda recently trooped to upland barangay Nabuclod in Floridablanca town as early as five o’clock in the morning for tree planting and gift giving activities.
The twin activities were part of the 113th Independence Day celebration and commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Mt.Pinatubo eruption, according to Provincial Administrator Atty. Andres S. Pangilinan, Jr.
Congresswoman Gloria M. Arroyo, Provincial Board Members Monina Laus, Trina Dizon, Fritzie David-Dizon, Ric Yabut, Nestor Tolentino and Tars Halili, Floridablanca Mayor Eduardo Guerrero and department heads of the provincial government joined the said activities along with Rene Romero of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce (PAMCHAM) and other representatives of the private sector.
Bamboo propagules, tamarind and mango seedlings were planted by the participating local officials, private and government employees in pre-identified sites at barangay Nabuclod, Pangilinan said.
Provincial Social Welfare Officer Elizabeth Baybayan said that the governor later distributed assorted food items and goodies to a total of 267 Aeta families.
Mely Santos, wife of Kagawad Bert Santos and one of the recipients of the relief goods, expressed her gratitude to Governor Pineda for her concern for the welfare and development of her fellow indigenous peoples.
She said that the governor and other officials of the Capitol always frequent their community to provide them with needed health and medical services.
Baybayin said that the province is set to launch on June 16 the Nabuclod project as one of the highlights of the on-going week-long commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
More so, the view deck and Aeta model village will also be inaugurated while some material goods and food items will be distributed to target family-beneficiaries on the same day.
The governor’s vision is to develop the upland community as an eco-tourism area to boost its economic potentials and provide livelihood opportunities to its IP residents. (Pampanga PIO)
