FLORIDABLANCA – Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda and her party braved the mountainous uplands of Barangay Nabuclod here to pay Aeta families there a visit.
Upon reaching the area, Pineda saw for herself that 50 of the Aetas in the area needed immediate medical attention. She then instructed her staff and local officials to take the sick Aetas to a nearby hospital for free medication.
“Denggang masakit a kulut, ibaba kula at pahospital kula ngan, ngeni mu rin,” she said.
Pineda was accompanied by 2nd District Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Mayor Eddie Guerrero, provincial board members and officials of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) during the visit.
With the assistance of the PVO and the OPA, Pineda also distributed a number of nebulizers for the sick, as well as educational kits for the students, and garden tools, seedlings, and goats for the farmers.
The governor said Aetas with tuberculosis will be given medicines for six months and all the children will be provided with necessary vitamins.
Alfredo “Boy” Santos, village chief of Nabuclod, expressed gratitude to the governor and to Rep. Arroyo for their “burning desire” in uplifting the quality of life of the upland people.
Bert Santos, village council member, said they will work hard for the propagation of the goats, vowing to share this livelihood activity to other Aetas.
Pineda said she would regularly visit the area to ensure that the Aetas’ unmet basic needs are properly delivered through comprehensive and integrated provision of social services, and to see if there is an improvement in their lives through the implementation of the government’s empowerment program.
The Aeta villages of Mawacat and Camachile here were also recipients of goods and services delivered by the governor through Board Members Monina Laus, Trina Dizon, Teresito Lingad, Tars Halili, Joel Simpauco, and Ric Yabut.
Joel P. Mapiles
Central Luzon Daily
