Approximately thirty families from an Aeta Community in Sitio Baag, Barangay Iba, San Jose, Tarlac, benefitted from the outreach program organized by the Tarlac State University – College of Teacher Education, in partnership with Rotary Club of Central Tarlac, Department of Agriculture and Department of Education Tarlac Province, and Local Government Unit of San Jose, Tarlac.
The two-day community outreach activity, under the Project AKAP (Asenso, Kaunlaran, Abot sa Pagtutulungan), was implemented on July 27 and 28, 2022. It was led by the project head and CTED Extension Chairperson Dr. Maria Agnes P. Ladia, together with her Doctor of Education students from TSU-CTED. The said project aims to target the 3L's (Light, Learning, and Living) to help the community through the production of solar lights, instructional material, and planting crops for profit.
Sitio Baag is a far-flung area composed of approximately forty households headed by their tribal chieftain Mr. Victor Mayuyu. Currently, there is no supply of electricity in the area and the whole community is sharing with two water pumps only.
To address this, the community was provided with nine solar light kits and one water pump. In addition, the Department of Agriculture donated fifty pieces of fruit-bearing seedlings and four trays of vegetable seedlings distributed to the heads of the household.
Benefactors also extended their service by creating and sharing instructional materials, giving basic school supplies and old clothing, and a feeding activity for the school children.
Aside from the provision of solar light kits, the beneficiaries were taught how to make solar lighting using recycled and inexpensive materials led by Mr. Edmar S. Aguilar, Technical Education Teacher from Don Bosco Technical Institute Tarlac.
The following day, a discussion on the construction of localized instructional materials was conducted. The finished outputs, together with school supplies, were then given to the school and learners which they can use for the full implementation of face-to-face- class in the community.
The outreach activity was concluded with a feeding activity and a closing program to confirm the attainment of the program's targets and to communicate with the community for the final remarks.
“Sana po ay magbukas sa inyo ito ng pintuan ng pag-asa at pagsisikap para sa ganoon ay talagang maasenso po tayo,” Dr. Ladia said in her message.
(I hope this will open doors full of hope and perseverance so that we can all have the progress we deserve.)
Dr. Ladia also said they would continue to support and provide activities that aim to strengthen their partnership with various stakeholders to improve the community's economic, health, education, and social well-being as part of the university's mandate to become a champion in community service.
