GMA orders agro-forestry projects for Aetas

PORAC, Pampanga, Philippines – President Arroyo, congresswoman-elect in this province’s second district, has asked environment officials to establish agro-forestry projects for Aetas in two remote barangays in this town where she held dialogues with the tribal folk last Saturday.

The President arrived at 9 a.m. in Barangay Diaz, which is otherwise accessible only by rough-terrain vehicle, and inspected a new two-classroom elementary school building before motoring to hilly Barangays Villa Maria and Sapang Uwak.

This town is part of the second district where Mrs. Arroyo ran for Congress and won.

Apart from instructing Ricardo Calderon, director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to establish agro-industrial projects for the Aetas, Mrs. Arroyo also vowed to support more scholarship programs for the tribal youth.

Mrs. Arroyo looked at ease and jubilant, as she mingled with the Aetas before leaving at noon.