Some members of the indigenous Aeta tribe now have a place to work and can brag that they are already being known as members of society, as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the world's largest sporting goods retailers, Decathlon tied up for a corporate inclusion program.

The program made three Aeta women from Barangay Sapang Bato in Pampanga and Sitio Kalangitan in Tarlac as sales representatives of Decathlon at their concept store in SM Clark, Pampanga.

BCDA and Decathlon's inclusion program aims to build a culture of social contribution by improving livelihood opportunities, especially for vulnerable households within surrounding communities in Pampanga and Tarlac.

"We are happy to have been accepted here at Decathlon. We are very grateful to Decathlon and BCDA for allowing us to work. It will be a great help to us and our family," said Meri Grace Garilles from Sitio Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac.

As part of Decathlon's corporate inclusion program, 15 men and women from Aeta communities in Tarlac and Pampanga were shortlisted by BCDA to attend a series of company briefings and tours as well as customer service training with Decathlon sports leaders to prepare them for future employment.

Of the 15 Aeta youths for employment opportunities in Decathlon, Garilles and Marianne Manalo of Sitio Kalangitan as well as Manilyn Pan of Barangay Sapang Bato in Pampanga bagged employment contracts with Decathlon Philippines.

"As we bring economic opportunities in Northern and Central Luzon through the cities we develop, we must make a conscious effort to bring those opportunities to all, especially to vulnerable households within those communities," said BCDA president and chief executive officer Engr. Joshua Bingcang.

Tarlac serves as home to BCDA's flagship project, the 9,450-hectare New Clark City, a greenfield development positioned to be an inclusive, resilient, sustainable and smart city.