Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Manuel Gaerlan said the P11 million trust fund of the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (BATA) and the Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association (MATA) is “still intact” and would be released once they get their acts together.
The two Aeta tribal organizations benefit from the government’s use of part of their ancestral land but clashing interests often delay the release of their shares from the CDC.
Gaerlan said the shares of the Aetas from the use of the ancestral domain stood at more than P11 million and the trust fund is still intact.
Several procedures have yet to be satisfied such as the crafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations on the determination of the net income, the disposition of the Aeta Development Fund, formation of the Aeta Development Committee composed of tribe members, and the opening of an official bank account under the tribe’s name.
The CDC already communicated with the Sangguniang Tribong Aeta since January last year for them to comply but to no avail.
The CDC, meanwhile, continues to provide livelihood trainings to the Aetas such as soap making as part of the CDC External Affairs Division—Corporate Social Responsibility (EAD-CSR) program.
The livelihood trainings usher in more livelihood opportunities for the Aetas in areas encompassing the Clark freeport. Aetas are also being given equal employment opportunities in the CDC.