“Handang makinig ang gobyerno sa inyo at pipilitin naming makatugon ng tama. Kaya’t hinihikayat ko din kayo, kasama na rin ang iba pang sektor, na makialam, makipag ugnayan, at magkaisa (The government is ready to listen to your concerns and we will try to respond appropriately.  I also urge you and other sectors to engage, collaborate and unite).”

This was the message of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Acting Secretary Virginia N. Orogo to some 2,000 Aetas who attended the dialogue with Indigenous People held at the Cristo Rey National High School, Capas, Tarlac on Wednesday.

Newly-appointed DSWD Undersecretary Isko Moreno,  Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary Emily Padilla, and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy were also at the dialogue.

The dialogue was organized by Bigkis, a civil society organization,  in cooperation with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President Secretary Bong Go.

Sec.  Orogo reiterated President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to help Filipinos belonging to IP communities as they belong to the poor and marginalized.  She added that from the start, the President has specifically instructed all his officials to touch base with the people, and not just remain in their offices.

“Nais ni Presidente na maibaba sa 14% ang poverty incidence sa ating bansa at tunay na tumulong sa mga mahihirap (The President wants to lower the poverty incidence in our country to 14% and to truly help those who are poor),” Sec. Orogo said.

For his part, Usec. Moreno said, “Kayong mga IP, pati na mga nakatatanda, ay mahalaga para kay Presidente.  Nandito ang gobyerno upang makinig sa inyo (You, as well as our senior citizens, are important to the President.  We, in the government,  are here to listen to you).”

4Ps non-inclusion

One of the concerns raised by the Aetas was their non-inclusion in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. An Aeta said that most of her tribesmen are not beneficiaries of the program, despite their obvious poverty.

Sec. Orogo responded that the Department implements a cash subsidy program specifically covering IPs which is the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

 “We will ask our social workers to go to your communities and assess your situation, at the same time check on our MCCT program,” Sec. Orogo said.

Another Aeta from Sitio Betel in Brgy.  Sto. Cristo brought up the absence of electricity services and the lack of better water system and farm to market roads in their community.  Some of the women also mentioned their difficulty in getting health services from hospitals and health centers.

In response, the DSWD chief said that IPs and other indigent sectors may avail of other forms of assistance from the DSWD such as financial, educational, and medical.  She added that the requirements for medical assistance are simple which are a certificate of indigency/residency and a medical abstract.

“Sa ngayon ay pupunta kayo sa opisina ng DSWD para sa paghingi ng tulong ngunit aaralin natin sa Departamento kung paanong sa hinaharap ay hindi na kayo pipila pa (For now, you need to go to the DSWD offices to ask for assistance, but it is our objective to install a system wherein you will no longer need to stand in line),” Sec. Orogo said.

Land distribution

Meanwhile, Usec. Padilla mentioned that the government plans  to implement a part 2 of the land distribution program as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) already expired.

Regarding other concerns,  Sec. Orogo committed to present these to Sec. Bong Go for appropriate action.

Sec. Orogo also encouraged the IPs, the elderly, the poor, and the other disadvantaged sectors to voice out their concerns as she assured them that the President’s foremost consideration is to help them have better lives. ###