FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga—True to her mission of bringing progress closer to indigenous people, Governor Lilia “Nanay” G. Pineda has brought developments in various ways and different scale in the upland village of Nabuklod with an estimated mountainous land area of 5,000 hectares.
Pineda who ruled the province for more than two years and two months made sure that her move to bring changes and reforms is being realized through developing, maximizing the potentials and turning aetas into more productive human being simultaneously transforming their ancestral land into an agri-tourism center while maintaining and recognizing their customs, culture and traditions.
To effectively implement this mission, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has authorized the governor to enter and sign a memorandum of agreement with the Tribong Ayta of Floridablanca for the initial development of the 1,000-hectares of ancestral land out of the total 5,000 hectares.
Upon signing, the provincial government has allotted some P6 million for agri-tourism development in the said upland village such as construction of water system that paved the way for the availability of potable water from in different areas and houses of the aetas.
As of the moment, the upland village has an almost complete statue of the ascension of Jesus Christ, zipline, cable car and view decks, available for the conduct of trainings, team-building among other group activities.
To make the upland village’s upland facilities more accessible, the provincial government is implementing the construction of P1-million road projects.
More local and foreign tourists have begun visiting the upland village of Nabuklod to experience the virtual touch of heaven on earth. It’s really a great place to visit, they said.
The provincial government is also working with the key shelter agencies for the construction of 350 housing units for the marginalized aeta families.
Last Saturday, the governor took time to visit the 360 aeta families whose plants and vegetables were readily available for harvest such as ampalaya, banana, squash, among others.
The governor said, the provincial government particularly the Office of the Provincial Agriculture is open for any request coming from the farmers especially from the IP’s.
“We can provide them seeds, pesticides and fertilizers in order to boost their production. We will also put up “Trading Post” for their harvest,” the governor said.
Simultaneously, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, she also distributed vegetable seedlings and assorted ready to eat foods for the IPs.
She also awarded domesticated pregnant goats to be raised by the aetas for their livelihoodin addition to the native chickens also given to them.
Dr. Augusto Baluyot, provincial veterinarian said that aside from farming, Gov.Pineda wants to encourage the aetas to learn the proper way of animal raising to augment the income of the IP families.
The village officials disclosed that they are open for development and with proper coordination and consultation with the aeta leaders, they will allow the idea of bringing in local and foreign investment in their ancestral land where one can see the fabulous scenery of the mountain ranges of the provinces of Bataan, Zambales and even Porac’s mountain view.
The governor said, the entry of the private investors should be approved by the IPs and their leaders as they are the one who owns the property adding that her administration’s only concern is the general welfare of the aetas and all agreements should be done in proper coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
With the proper attention from the government and interest of the private sector to invest millions of pesos for its development, there is no other way available but for the aetas to experience inevitable progress in the years to come.
By Jenna V. Lumbang, PIO Pampanga
