Some 521 Aeta families in Barangay Maruglo, Capas, Tarlac received farming implements from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help them become economically stable and prevent them from going to cities to beg during the Christmas season.
“Itong community na ito, tinutulungan natin sa farm inputs nila, may mga kuliglig at tractors na maliliit. Bahagi ito ng Pag-abot program natin, kasi ang gusto nga natin ang mga indigenous communities natin hindi sila na-eexploit pagdating sa Pasko at hindi sila pinapapunta sa Maynila, para mamalimos sa mga kalsada, sa mga lansangan,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said during the turnover.
The Pag-abot program offers short-term and long-term interventions for families and individuals in street situations (FISS), aiming to help them live sustained and dignified lives. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier emphasized the importance of assisting the most vulnerable, including the Aetas, in his 2025 State of the Nation Address.
Last year, members of the Aeta community were brought back to Maruglo after going to Metro Manila to beg during the holidays. Through DSWD’s case management, they were provided with carabaos for farm work. To date, the agency has turned over 141 carabaos to the community.
This year, aside from carabaos, Gatchalian handed over 10 hand-tractors with trailers, nine mini-tillers, 10 grass-cutters, 10 water pumps, 33 knapsack sprayers, six power sprayers, four mini palay threshers, and three rice mills. The support was delivered through the convergence of the Pag-abot program and KALAHI-CIDSS.
Beneficiary Cora Cosme Gonzales, 37, expressed her gratitude, recalling how difficult farming near Mt. Pinatubo was before receiving a carabao in 2024.
“Kalabaw po at gariton po ang naibigay sa amin. Kaya pasalamat po kami dahil umabot po yung tulong sa amin, kasi nuon po kaya nakiki-pasko po kami dahil nahihirapan po kami para makatanim po kami sa bundok, para mayroon kaming pagkain,” she said.
The DSWD said the initiative is part of its wider efforts to empower indigenous peoples across the country, including the Badjao community in Zamboanga.