What future does an Aeta have? Day in, day out, as Clark Green City (CGC) project continues, about 20,000 indigenous Aetas residing in Tarlac are in fear of losing their rights to land and only source of livelihoods.
CGC is a public-private partnership scheme initiated by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) that aims to convert 36,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land within Clark Freeport Zone in towns of Capas and Bamban, Tarlac and parts of Pampanga into a mixed urban use land to create a modern, sustainable city for economic growth. The development plan of CGC proposal has indicated that the core infrastractures of the city will be comprised of 9,450 hectares within the 36,000 hectares free port zone. This area corresponds to a size that is half of Metro Manila emphasizing the massive scale of this project.
On a statement by one of the Aeta chieftains: "Development for whom? Will we benefit from these developments? Why do we feel that we are all left out? Is it because we are voiceless and powerless? But despite of all threats and uncertainties, we will defend our land." For many of them, CGC project is like a plague that can easily shatter their cultural identities, historical heritages and future lives.
CGC is a public-private partnership scheme initiated by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) that aims to convert 36,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land within Clark Freeport Zone in towns of Capas and Bamban, Tarlac and parts of Pampanga into a mixed urban use land to create a modern, sustainable city for economic growth. The development plan of CGC proposal has indicated that the core infrastractures of the city will be comprised of 9,450 hectares within the 36,000 hectares free port zone. This area corresponds to a size that is half of Metro Manila emphasizing the massive scale of this project.
On a statement by one of the Aeta chieftains: "Development for whom? Will we benefit from these developments? Why do we feel that we are all left out? Is it because we are voiceless and powerless? But despite of all threats and uncertainties, we will defend our land." For many of them, CGC project is like a plague that can easily shatter their cultural identities, historical heritages and future lives.
