THE uplift of the standard of living of the country’s indigenous peoples (IPs) is one of the targets of the government, while non-governmental organizations, civic associations and other private entities have joined forces not only to improve the IPs’ lives, but also to integrate them into mainstream society.
The SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) in taking care of communities proximate to the location of SM Malls and stores, has been extending assistance to the members of the indigenous communities for several years now. Recently, in Bamban, Tarlac, Ayta farmers finished the season-long Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farmers Training Program. While KSK primarily aims to train farmers to have a sustainable farm and make them self-sufficient in food to address malnutrition, the other objective is to inspire small vegetable farmers to become entrepreneurs.
At the training program in Bamban, aside from its residents and those of nearby municipalities, members of the Ayta community living nearby were among the enthusiastic participants. About 118 of them finished the training program.
A similar training program was carried out in Olongapo City, where an SM Department Store and a Hypermart are located. Members of the Ayta community joined the program and are now established vegetable growers, providing them with food on their tables and an additional income for their families. They were trained to cultivate different varieties of vegetables, such as ampalaya, eggplant, squash, cucumber and pepper. They were given lessons on irrigation and pest control.
In Bamban, after the KSK program, May Farm, an agritourism resort and farm school, went further by training Ayta minorities to integrate modern farming technology with their traditional methods. Training is provided by the SMFI, while May Farm, aside from providing the demo farm, helps the Aytas form a cooperative to market their produce. May Farm allowed a group of Aytas under their tribal leader Casun to settle within the 6.2 hectares owned by May Farm.
Under the guidance of Agnes Yap-Marcon and Ana Maria Yap-Zubiri, the SM Foundation set up a school of Ayta children, as well as children of small-scale farmers, in nearby municipalities in a tie-up with Brightwood School in Angeles, Pampanga.
SMFI AVP for Outreach Programs Cristie Angeles said KSK also seeks to connect farmers to the market by giving them access to the extensive SM network that includes SM Markets-Supermarket, Hypermarket and Savemore stores. By working hand in hand with the community, the training helps to bring back hope in farming, Angeles said.
To further provide assistance to the Ayta community, a health facility and a ward in the Porac District Hospital was rehabilitated, renovated and turned into a Special Minority Ward to serve the medical needs of the group. Called the Felicidad Sy Cultural Minority Ward, it occupies an unused portion of the district hospital once devastated by lahar, but renovated, repainted and provided with the necessary equipment. The district hospital provided not only a spacious ward for the Aytas but also an ample garden space where they could cultivate their desired plants for food. The Aytas did not like hospital food so the herbal garden gave them an opportunity to plant familiar vegetbles. In consideration of their customs and practices, a cooking area was also made available so they can cook their food.
Medical lectures on child-care and cleanliness are provided for by the hospital.