CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – In a bid to empower and involve the aetas or the indigenous peoples (IPs) in decision making for the development of their upland villages in Floridablanca, the provincial government through the leadership of Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda has formed the Floridablanca Aeta Ancestral Domain Council (FAADC).
As this developed, 4th District Board Member Nestor Tolentino, committee chair on cultural minorities officially administered the oath taking of the newly-elected officers of FAADC headed by its, newly- elected President Ricardo Guiao.
This came as the IPs of Nabuclod, Floridablanca and the heads of various departments of the provincial government gathered at the Benigno Aquino hall recently for IPs’ Forum and induction of elected FAADC officers.
The gathering commenced with the formation and presentation of the IP’s constitution and by-laws presided by Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Officer Mamerto Gatus.
The Aetas participated in the nomination and election of officials for their various committees. Each committee is comprised of committee head and representatives from Sitio Centro, Balendalag, Camachile, Inararo, Labwan, Malan-ac, Mawakat, and Tagak.
The elected committee chairpersons are as follows: Lito Apang (Livelihood), Marquez Santos (Education), Nardo Serrano (Agriculture), Amelia Apang (Health), Jerry Liwanag (Tourism), Benjamin Santos (Environment and Disaster Management), and Federico Mendoza (Housing and Logistics), all headed by the FAADC President Ricardo Guiao.
“Ing obligasyun tamu ken yang buong tribu, ali mu king pibatan yung lugar,” Guiao reminded his co-leaders.
Moreover, Roger Apang, Nabuclod village chief urged the aetas to continue working harder and thanked the tribe for their support in the various projects launched by the government.
“Salamat mu naman keng suporta ning kapitolyu. Etamu kapilan man mangalingwan. Dakal na la reng magobra kekatamu abe ning kapitolyu para king kekatamung panyulung,” the village chief ended.
Meanwhile, Tolentino stressed that the provincial government aims to improve the aetas’ quality of life without invading or disrespecting the tribes’ existing laws, culture and tradition.
“This gathering is very significant since this is the way the provincial government, through the leadership of Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, devises development program that empowers the Kapampangans, including the IPs,” Tolentino ended. (Angelique DC. Tuazon, PIO)
