Relief goods for displaced indigenous families in Zambales
25 August 2020
Preda News
Hundreds of displaced Aeta Farmers and their families are taking shelter in the covered basketball court in Buhawen, San Marcelino, Zambales after a clash between the Philippine Military and suspected NPA rebels in nearby Lumibao. One soldier died.
The displaced indigenous Aeta people are in dire need and worry about their livestock and properties. As many as 177 members of the community were given relief goods of five kilos of rice and assorted groceries by the Preda Foundation donated by the Profairtrade Development Enterprise(PDE). They are also given additional face masks as protection against covid-19 donated by a Korean Fair Trade partner.
There will be more Preda Foundation relief food distribution in the communities where covid-19 has caused greater poverty and want. Among the 177 Aeta families helped are 85 Aeta indigenous farmers who are members of the Farmers Organic Association organized by the Profairtrade Development enterprise that donated funds and works through the Preda Foundation throughout Southern Zambales.
The Profairtrade (PDE) organic project pays high fair trade prices for the communities several varieties of carabao, Pico and Indian mango. They are processed in Bulacan and exported as mango puree to Europe. The project is running for six years already although climate change has caused low harvests in recent years. The Preda project distributed 3,968 mango 4 ft high saplings to the farmers in 2019 to counter climate change. This is an annual reforestation project of PDE and Preda Foundation.
Shay Cullen
www.preda.org
