NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino (DPWH) – In its aim to improve the life of every Filipino through quality infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had employed various group of Indigenous people for the various infrastructure projects in the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

DPWH-2 OIC-Director Melvin B. Navarro reported to Secretary Rogelio L. Singson 30 Agtas/Aetas, 21 Kankanaeys and 3 Ibalois are presently working in the on-going Cordon-Diffun-Madella-Aurora Boundary road project in Junuan, Nagtipunan, Quirino.

In Imugan, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, there are 60 Kalanguya/Ikalahan who were hired in the current construction of the Nueva Vizcaya – Pangasinan Road.

Director Navarro earlier urged project engineers and contractors of the particular projects to continue giving due preference to indigenous people as laborers/workers.

Employment of locals is done in all DPWH projects in support to the national government’s initiative of community based employment.

Agta tribal chieftain, Narcing Ramos lamented that Agta settlers in Nagtipunan are among the depressed and neglected tribal groups in the region. They lack education, skills, and livelihood. Most of the Agtas are only few of them finished elementary education and are into kaingin farming as a primary source of living.

Twenty-three years old Agta, Abel Pantalion describes how their lives drastically changed after they were employed. “At present, we are no longer moving from one place to another, we also learned how to mingle and communicate with other people unlike before when we are isolated and intimidated to interact them,” he said.

“Dakkel iti nagbaliw iti biag mi, adu iti nasursuru mi nga nasayaat nga ubra” (Our lives has change significantly, we have learned vital skills and valuable qualities in working.) Pantalion added.

According to Director Navarro, the DPWH promotes social responsibility by providing employment to these indigenous people enabling them to develop skills and abilities particularly in masonry, carpentry, and construction-related activities which will create opportunities for them to earn a living for their families.

Another Agta, Bernabe De Guzman was emotional and teary eyed as he shared his feelings towards his employment. “Pagyamanan mi iti dakkel nga nakasirrek kami idtoy proyekto iti DPWH ket problema mi ti pagalaan mi iti kanen iti ubbing mi, tattan ket dakkel nga naitulong da (DPWH) ta adda met iti nam-namaen mi nga pagalan iti ipakan mi iti pamilya mi ket idi permi nga kakaasi kami nga agbiruk iti pangsuporta mi dagiti pamilya mi, manipud idi nakatrabaho nak ket napa-adal ku met iti annak ku nga uppat.”

(We are really thankful for having been employed in the DPWH project, in the past we have been struggling to find means to feed our families, we are grateful for blessing us with these jobs, not only could I support my family, I was also able to send my 4 children to school.)

On the other hand, Imugan, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, Kagawad and tribal group leader, Oscar Guimbungan said that the Kalanguya/Ikalahan natives were only dependent on hunting and Kaingin farming, but with the creation of jobs through the road concreting project, the people were given a stable source of income.

“Naragsak kami ta adta iti proyekto iti DPWH ditoy nga agpapintas iti dalan mi ken adtan iti pagtrabahuan iti tattao ditoy.” (We are really glad that DPWH is here to beautify our roads and able to provide employment for the people here in our place.) Kalanguya/Ikalahan native Juan Binuhe stated.

Secretary Singson lauded DPWH Region 2 for promoting employment to these marginalized groups of Filipinos saying that this is also a step to developing their construction skills and abilities as combine action to improve infrastructure and at the same time having a decent source of living.

The construction of Cordon-Diffun-Madella-Aurora boundary road and Nueva Vizcaya-Pangasinan road are part of the program to fully complete the paving of all national arterial road by 2014 and national secondary roads by 2016.