FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga – The abundance of vegetables celebrated in that beloved Filipino folk song comes all too real at the 10-hectare cropland inside the Floridablanca National Agricultural School (FNAS) here.
On Sept. 11, Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda and Department Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined in harvesting the crops cultivated by some 200 Aetas in the land covered by a 30-year usufruct agreement of the Capitol and FNAS.
Talong. Sitaw. Mani. Sili. Okra. Calabasa. Camote. Cassava. Plus, rice and corn. A bountiful harvest from the seeds and fertilizer provided by the provincial government as part of its food sustainability and livelihood program.
As further support, the provincial government bought part of the harvest for its feeding programs as well as distribution to the provincial jail and the district hospitals.
The Capitol also provided a vehicle to be used to transport the Aeta produce to the stalls it set up at the public market.
To make the program more sustainable, Gatchalian will enroll the Aetas in the cash-for-work program of DSWD. As initial assistance, he distributed relief goods while the Capitol also gave cash assistance.
The Capitol also provided a vehicle to be used to transport AETA products to the stalls set up by the Capitol in the market.
To make the program more sustainable, Secretary Rex will include the Aetas in the Cash-for-Work Program of DSWD. As preliminary aid, the agency distributed relief goods while the Capitol gave cash assistance.
Joining Gatchalian in his visit were DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, Disaster Response Management Bureau director Maria Isabel Lanada, and DSWD Field Office 3–Central Luzon director Venus Rebuldela.
From the Capitol were provincial social welfare and development officer Fe Manarang, environment and natural resources officer Arthur Punsalan, provincial engineer Noli Pangan, and provincial agriculturist Jimmy Manliclic. Punto News Team/Photos: Daniel Ombina-Pampanga PIO
