TARLAC CITY -- About 40 members of Paquillao Aeta Native Abelling (PANA) Tribal Council from sitio Paquillao in barangay Care, Tarlac City underwent agriculture-related skills training provided by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Tesda’s agri-crops production training to Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities is under the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

It aims to develop self-reliant, resilient and sustainable communities through harmonized and culturally responsive development programs, create additional livelihood and other income generating opportunities, and conduct of agriculture related qualifications such as Agricultural Crops Production NC II and Animal Production (Poultry-Chicken) NC II.

In his message, Tesda Regional Director Jesus Fajardo explained the training's dual purpose.

“We are shooting two birds in one stone, providing trainings and learnings to the IPs and paving way of opportunities to IP communities," Fajardo said.

In behalf of PANA Tribe, Tribal Chieftain Bernie Pantaleon thanked the government agencies who worked together for this program.

"We thank you for giving us priority in the programs you create, because of these programs, we are given hope," Pantaleon said.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Commissioner Rolando Rivera, who is also a member of PANA tribe, noted the importance of this program to IP communities.

"It is necessary for IP communities to be united and remain at peace, where in no other interventions but only government interventions must occur for IP communities to remain law-abiding," Rivera said. (PR)