About 22 Dumagats in the province of Bulacan are ready to be employed overseas.

In his message during the Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery held in Camp Olivas, Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 3 Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) Chairperson and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Director Balmyrson Valdez said that these indigenous people were hired by the EEI Corporation construction firm after graduating from the heavy equipment operation (HEO) training course.

“PRLEC and its partner agencies continue to assist the indigenous people whom we consider as vulnerable sector. The cluster has been moving in far flung areas in the country to reach the residents through livelihood and skills training,” he said.
The Dumagats are set to be given job opportunities as truck mounted crane operator, hydraulic excavator operator, or forklift operator in Saudi Arabia.
In response, Erfraine Dalangin, one of the Dumagats, emphasized that the overseas employment will pave the way towards the achievement of his dreams, and the improvement of the status of his life.

“To those who are like me who did not have the chance to finish their studies, when you are given this kind of opportunity, grab it, do it, and achieve it with all of your heart,” he said.
Dalangin thanked the government for extending its services in far-flung areas, and making sure that nobody is being left behind, especially the indigenous groups.
Aside from these aids, Valdez emphasized that there are about 95 Dumagats from Barangay San Mateo who finished their training in different areas in HEO; 85 in agricultural crop production; 76 in shielded metal arc welding; and 50 in bread and pastry production.

TESDA also trained the indigenous people of Sitio Ipo Dam, Sitio Paco Santol, and Sitio Sapang Munti in San Mateo village on solar power irrigation system and solar lighting system due to the lack of electricity and water in the area.

“The skills training provided for the solar night lights allowed the beneficiaries to build their own. The solar charging station provided by TESDA enabled them to charge their gadgets, specifically the available mobile phones which they could use for communication,” the director noted.
Moreover, Valdez underscored that PRLEC is bent on pushing for various interventions in indigenous communities as they have been havens for the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) in the recruitment for armed revolution.

“The CTGs are primarily targeting the recruitment of indigenous people as they are the most vulnerable sectors for deception, radicalization and exploitation. These indigenous communities are the most discriminated, isolated, and neglected area in the country that can easily be infiltrated by CTGs,” he said.
With this, he pledged that the cluster will strengthen its convergence efforts towards developing self-reliant, productive, resilient, and sustainable communities through harmonized and culturally responsive development programs.
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