Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian leads the turnover of farming carabaos to Pag-Abot program beneficiaries in Barangay Maruglu, in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday (May 30).

Some 50 members of the Aeta Community were each given one carabao and Php 10,000 grant which can be used for farming as their source of  sustainable livelihood.

The Aeta beneficiaries were among the individuals reached out by the DSWD in Manila during the agency’s rollout of Pag-Abot sa Pasko last December 2023.

The provision of aid is part of the DSWD’s broader efforts to provide sustainable livelihood to Pag-Abot Program beneficiaries including the Aeta members.

Secretary Gatchalian was joined by DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay, Special Assistant Secretary (SAS) for Innovations Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo, Social Technology Bureau (STB) Asst.  Director Marilyn Moral, and DSWD Field Office-3 (Central Luzon) Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Armont C. Pecina.

Tarlac Provincial Governor Susan A. Yap and Capas Municipal Mayor Roseller B. Rodriguez witnessed the turnover of carabaos to the Aeta community.

In a separate turnover ceremony, 12 members of the Aeta community in Bamban Tarlac were also given the same interventions by the DSWD.#