House to investigate agreement between CDC and Aeta tribes

ANGELES CITY, Philippines - The House of Representatives’ proposed investigation into the Joint Marine Agreement (JMA) between the state-owned firm Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and Aeta tribes inside Clark Airbase was accepted by CDC President Levy Laus. House Resolution 545, filed by Pampanga Representative Carmelo Lazatin was to investigate on the JMA signed by CDC, the Tribung Ayta and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP). "The House investigation should be able to bring in proper and correct perspective the agreement and should disabuse any lingering or emerging misconception that the Aetas have not been given a fair deal in this regard," Mr. Laus said. The said agreement includes the CDC’s management of the development of about 10,684 hectares of Aeta lands for 50 years in a profit-sharing scheme where they will get an 80% profit while they Aetas will get 20%. In HR 545, Mr. Lazatin claimed that the income stated in the agreement was unfair to the Aetas, that was computed to be at P1 million per year for the whole area. Mr. Laus said that the development of vast lands that could be beneficial to the Aetas and Clark and other areas in Pampanga and Tarlac was a long-time negotiation between the government, CDC and the Aeta tribes. Thirteen special utility vehicles to each of the Aeta tribes for their transport requirements in moving products and moving from uplands to lowlands were turned over by the CDC. "We look at this agreement as the beginning of a brighter future for our Aeta brothers in terms of a better economic environment and livelihood opportunities," Mr. Laus said. — Ma. Paola J. Syyap, BusinessWorld