CDC to transform Aetas into ‘self-sufficient entrepreneurs’

CLARK FREEPORT — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is eyeing possible partnerships with the country’s science and trade departments in the pursuit of projects that are geared in transforming Aetas into self-sufficient entrepreneurs.

CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort said the state-owned corporation is planning to forge partnerships with government agencies like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Bureau of Food and Drugs for the implementation of livelihood programs for Aetas in the Next Frontier area which is located in Clark’s Sacobia Valley.

Ricafort said the Next Frontier project is in consonance with the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) signed in December 6, 2007 by CDC, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and leaders of the Tribung Ayta, who have inherent rights over certain areas of the Sacobia Valley under the Ancestral Domain Claims.

“CDC will be pursuing programs and projects that are geared toward capacity-building, entrepreneurship, and cooperativism. These endeavors are aimed at building self-sufficiency among members of Tribung Ayta,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort said: “Foremost in the implementation of livelihood programs will be CDC’s assistance in packaging and marketing of various existing products that Aetas are known for like cultural crafts and root crops.”

The CDC president also said the state-run corporation will ask the assistance of BFAD for the processing of the Aeta farm produce or plants into food, soaps, and other similar products.

“We are making it a point that our activities and projects for the Next Frontier will nurture Aetas into entrepreneurship, and the building of cooperatives to make them self-sufficient, Ricafort said.”

Ricafort also said the CDC also aims to establish common service facilities for Aetas in their respective residential clusters that will be built in the Sacobia Valley.

“These facilities will serve as venues for training, orientation, and even as showcase for their various products,” Ricafort said.

Earlier, Ricafort announced that the CDC is optimistic on the speedy completion of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the JMA.

Ricafort cited the JMA as the prime ingredient of the Next Frontier project that aims to develop more than 2,000 hectares of forested area in the Sacobia Valley – the northern portion of this Freeport.

“The most important role of the JMA is that it ensures the recognition and promotion of the overall welfare of the Aeta tribes in the area aside from enabling the CDC to generate investment potentials in tourism, housing, commercial, institutional and light industry projects in the Sacobia Valley through the Next Frontier project,” Ricafort said.

Also, Ricafort reported that the CDC has trained 21 Aetas, 18 of which have been selected as tour guides after an extensive training spearheaded by the state-run corporation, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region III office last June 15 to 19, 2009.

The Aeta tour guides are now employed at the Clark Museum, Ricafort said, adding that during their training they were brought to various national museums “to benchmark and observe” the work of curators and guides.

Ricafort added that more than 100 Aetas and residents of the Sacobia Valley here have applied for security force for the Next Frontier.

Dubbed “Special Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary” (SCAA), the project is a recruitment of Ayta Security Detail for the Next Frontier that seeks more ways to provide livelihood programs for indigenous people in the area.