Jose de Jesus, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) chairman, talks with Aeta children during the launch of “Aeta Pagsasarili Program”. (photo from PNA)
Clark, Pampanga – Aeta children and their parents will receive early childhood and adult learning practices, respectively through a program launched here recently.
The “Aeta Pagsasarili Program” targets indigenous people communities in the Certificate of Ancestral Domain title 025A area, which is found near the Clark Freeport zone. The program is implemented by the Clark Development Corporation’s (CDC) External Affairs Division with the technical assistance from OB Montessori.
Beneficiaries are 50 Aeta children, three to four years old, who will be given education on value formation, human and social development, proper sanitation, hygiene and basic health care, with free school materials, meals, vitamins, school uniform and even transportation.
Meanwhile, their parents and other adults will learn practical and livelihood skills such as food preservation, soap making and janitorial and household-keeping, with free raw materials and meals.
“The end goal of the project is to physically and economically develop the said area, and develop its human capital towards a sustainable community for Aetas,” said CDC chairman Jose “Ping” de Jesus.
He added that the program is temporarily held at the newly constructed building at the Clark Skills and Training Center. But program will have a permanent learning center once the ongoing construction and improvement of the Building 2092″ in the Freeport has been completed and the building becomes fully-operational.
To continue the gains of the program, four IP teachers were trained as teachers by OB Montessori, while the Department of Education in Region 3 (Central Luzon) will provide assistance in guaranteeing further education once students have graduated from the program. (Jojo Mangahis)