State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) teamed upo with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office III and Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) to establish the Ayta Ethno Botanical Center (AEBC) in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.
BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang signed memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with DA RFO III director Eduardo Lapuz and PSAU vice president for planning and resource generation Lyndon Solis on Dec. 13, 2024 to formalize the partnership.
“I feel the importance of the contributions of our farmers. The government consistently recognizes the value of the agriculture sector – our fellowmen whose livelihood are in agriculture. Let us not forsake them. We want to help our Aeta fellowmen. And I want us to be productive – and that this will yield good benefits,” Bingcang said.
Under the agreement, BCDA will allocate 10 hectares of land for AEBC, while PSAU will oversee the learning facility’s operations through its extension and training programs.
The DA allocated P4.8 million to support training programs focused on enhancing indigenous agricultural practices.
The AEBC is designed to serve as a model for food forests, where edible and harvestable crops are cultivated in a sustainable, multi-layered system.
The 10-hectare facility aims to enhance the capabilities of local farmers and fisherfolk, particularly the Aeta communities in Pampanga and Tarlac.
It also provides BCDA an avenue to develop nearby forest reserves into ecotourism destinations.
The BCDA said it continues to engage government and private sectors to collaborate on identifying and implementing projects that align with the AEBC’s goals, ensuring that the facility benefits both the local community and the wider region.
