The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has teamed up with Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 3 (Central Luzon) and the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) to establish a 10-hectare ethnobotanical learning facility in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

The move is an effort to scale up the capacities of local farmers and fisherfolk, especially the Aeta communities in Pampanga and Tarlac.

BCDA president and chief executive officer (CEO) Joshua Bingcang recently signed memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with DA Regional Field Office 3 Executive Director Dr. Eduardo Lapuz and PSAU vice president for Planning and Resource Generation Dr. Lyndon Solis for the establishment of Ayta Ethno Botanical Center (AEBC) in New Clark City.

Bingcang acknowledged the support of the DA on the project and assured them that the funding allocated for AEBC would be efficiently used for the benefit of the indigenous communities.

He also thanked the “brain powers” of the PSAU for their full commitment to provide knowledge and training for AEBC.

The BCDA head also cited the important role of those working in the agricultural sector, saying that the government is putting high value on their contributions to nation-building.

He also said the BCDA aims for the project to be productive and vowed to provide more spaces to provide more benefits for the next generations of Aeta communities.

More spaces, benefits for Aetas

“Ramdam ku ing importansya da reng agagawa da ring kekatamung ortilano. Ing gubyerno lagi na lang paulagan deng miytembru na ning agriculture sector – den pung kabalen tamu na ing kabyayan da atiyu keng agriculture. E tala pu paburen. Ing buri mi pung gawan asopan tala reng kabalen tang Aytas. Ini pu buri ku na maging productive tamu pu – mika masanting yang benepisyu ini (I feel the importance of the contributions of our farmers. The government consistently recognizes the value of the agriculture sector – our fellowmen whose livelihood are in agriculture. Let us not forsake them. We want to help our Aeta fellowmen. And I want us to be productive – and that this will yield good benefits),” Bingcang said in Kapampangan language.

“There are more lands, instead of being idle, it can be productive. We can learn more so we can earn more and if this becomes successful, we will do more. BCDA is your partner. This is a 15-year partnership, we started it but we can also include our children and our fellow citizens in the future,” he added in the vernacular.

Under the MOAs, BCDA will allocate a 10-hectare land in New Clark City for the Ayta Ethno Botanical Center. PSAU, meanwhile, will manage, supervise, and monitor the learning facility’s activities through its extension and training program. For its part, the DA Regional Field Office III has allocated PHP4.8 million for a training project in the enrichment of the agriculture, food, and non-food based indigenous practices of the Aetas at the facility.

Solis said the PSAU is “fully committed to provide assistance and expertise in agriculture” even as he thanked BCDA for the partnership.”

The Ayta Ethno Botanical Center is envisioned to become a model for food forests – a system in which edible, harvestable crops are produced in a multi-story setting – which can be replicated around the green areas of New Clark City. The presence of an ethnobotanical learning facility in New Clark City also provides BCDA an opportunity to develop adjoining protected and forest reserve areas into an ecotourism spot.

Lapuz said the DA’s main concern is to help address the need for quality and affordable food for all. He added that the DA is assured that the PHP4.8 million fund donated for the project is in good hands with the BCDA even as he envisions a sustainable partnership with the latter.

“We are very happy to partner with BCDA and the UP Extension Program for Clark. Alam natin na nasa mabuting kamay ang ating pondong ibibigay. At itong partnership na ito ay magiging pangmatagalan. Ang tanging vision ng DA ay makatulong tayo sa food security. Makatulong tayo sa supply ng pagkain, hindi lang quality ng supply but affordable food (We know that the fund we are giving is in good hands. And this partnership will be long-term. The only vision of DA is to help achieve food security. We would help in food supply, not just quality in supply, but also afforfable food),” Dr. Lapuz said.

The BCDA has been coordinating with different sectors, both government and private, to be partners and stakeholders to assist in the identification, planning and implementation of appropriate projects that can be implemented in the 10-hectare area earmarked for AEBC. (PNA)