Around 200 kids from the Aeta community of Barangay Sapang Bato in Angeles Pampanga received gifts from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the Angeles city government, and the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI) as part of a joint outreach program this yuletide season.
Hundreds of donated toys, books, and clothing, as well as food packs and other gift items were distributed to beneficiaries during the outreach activity at the Sitio Target Integrated School in Brgy. Sapang Bato last December 22.
“Masaya kami sa BCDA na makapiling ang ating mga kabataan sa panahong nalalapit na ang kapanganakan ni Hesus. Nabuo ang mga regalong nasa likod ko dahil sa pinagsama-samang donasyon ng mga empleyado at liderato ng BCDA, at iba pang indibidwal sa loob at labas ng aming ahensya,” BCDA Vice President for Land and Assets Development Richard M. Cepe said.
(We at the BCDA are happy to meet these kids near the day our lord Jesus Christ was born. We’ve amassed all these gifts through the collective efforts of the employees and leadership of BCDA, as well as other individuals inside and outside of our agency.)
The gift-giving activity was also joined by Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, Angeles City Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Archie Lazatin, ARAW-ACI President Renato Tayag Jr., and other partners from the Adopt-A-Watershed Reforestation Program (AWRP), namely, Pampanga Press Club, Scrubbed.NET, Angeles City Water District, Jocson College, the Rotary Club of Angles Kuliat, Holy Family Academy alumni, Porac Bank, and Balibago Waterworks.
Barangay Sapang Bato is home to at least 500 Aeta families who are part of the communities affected by BCDA’s development projects in Central Luzon.
It also serves as the community partner for the AWRP, which is being jointly implemented by the Angeles City local government unit and ARAW-ACI. As part of the program, public and private partners take part in reforestation efforts within a 527-hectare watershed located inside Brgy. Sapang Bato.
BCDA, as part of this movement, regularly participates in these activities to ensure the sustainable and inclusive development of Clark and its surrounding communities.
Outreach activity for military stakeholders
Aside from this outreach program, the BCDA also aided its military stakeholders this holiday season by providing support to the Civil-Military Operations Regiment (CMOR) during their yuletide activities.
The BCDA, earlier this month, donated gift packs to 300 kids coming from selected communities in Metro Manila, Central and Southern Luzon, including children of CMOR officers for the Army unit’s gift-giving activity, entitled “Masayang Bata sa Pasko, Masayang Pamilya ng Sundalo.”
The military is one of BCDA’s biggest stakeholders, as a portion of the state-run corporation’s revenues are remitted as contributions to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.