MABALACAT CITY --- To show their gratitude, a group of Aetas offered fresh fruits and bow and arrow to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat during her visit to Clark Freeport on Wednesday, May 16, 2021.

The indigenous people from sitio Haduan were beneficiaries of the cash for work program implemented by the Department of Tourism (DoT).

Some 37 Aetas received P5,000 cash each under the program, according to City Tourism Arwin Lingat.

Lingat, Councilors Win Win Garbo Ruby Margarito, City Information Officer Jay Pelayo, and others accompanied Puyat during her visit to the Haduan Aeta Community.

Mayor Cris Garbo lauded the National Government, particularly the two agencies for the cash for work program which he described as a big help to his constituents displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Ako ay taos pusong nagpapasalamat kay DOT Secretary Bernadette Puyat sa kanyang pagmamalasakit sa ating mga kababayan. Malaking tulong ang Cash-For-Work Program ng Bayanihan 2 lalo na sa mga nawalan ng trabaho ngayong pandemiya," the mayor said.

Aside from the Aetas, golf caddies and tricycle drivers in the city also benefitted from the cash for work program of the DOT and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Pelayo said that some 1,164 caddies and 800 also received P5,000 under the program.

Some P10 million was spent under the government program which benefitted 2,001 individuals belonging to the tourism-related sector here.