Livelihood projects proposed for 18 tribal communities

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – A cultural minority representative in the Bataan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is opting for the establishment of viable livelihood projects in 18 tribal communities in the province.

Board member Danilo B. Salonga, indigenous people mandatory representative, said the setting-up of different income generating business schemes would improve the socio-economic status of some 15,000 cultural minorities in Bataan.

Salonga, chairman of Panlalawigan Asosasyon ng mga Aeta sa Bataan ( PANABAT), stressed that he is intimately evaluating the possibility of introducing entrepreneurial tie-up with  trading firms  and tribal leaders for food processing and handicraft ventures.

He said the 18 tribal communities have the resources and skills to devise efficient and profitable business partnership in collaboration with several government and private agencies for sustainable livelihood projects in the hinterlands.

Salonga, who officially swore to office last September 2015, has been coordinating with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Department of Agriculture (DA) for coconut seedlings, farm animals, vegetable seeds, fertilizers and other farm inputs to make idle lands productive .

While focusing on education, health, livelihood programs for the cultural minorities in Bataan, Salonga is expecting a more rewarding development on ancestral domain issue consisting of   3,600 hectares in Limay and 8,000 hectares in Mariveles with the documents already submitted to the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) for the signature of the President.