It may be a job mismatch on paper, but for Dolly Rose Coteng-Minas, a native of Barangay Poblacion in the upland town of Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, her current role as Head of the Provincial Employment Service Division Office (PESDO) under the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) is more fulfilling, enjoyable, and challenging than she ever imagined.
A proud member of the Kankanaey tribe from Sagada, Mountain Province, Minas began her career as a school nurse at Baguio City High School alongside her husband, Rogelio, a native of Ambaguio. They are blessed with five children.
Her career journey took her from the Rural Health Unit in Ambaguio, where she served for four years, to academia as a Clinical Instructor at Saint Mary’s University for six years.
“I left behind the perks of working in the public health sector, but I found greater satisfaction in serving our fellow Indigenous Peoples (IPs),” Minas shared.
Her immersion in upland barangays—home to many IP communities—along with her active community involvement, gave her deep insight into social issues, especially those faced by IPs, including discrimination.
“Despite being an IP, we can stand on equal footing with our non-IP counterparts. I am inspired to help empower our fellow IPs,” she added.
Her career within the PLGU began in the Provincial Health Office, where she served as Health Education and Promotions Officer from 2016 to 2021. That role became a springboard for her current leadership position at PESDO, where she now serves as Senior Labor and Employment Officer.
As head of PESDO, she embraced the mandate of addressing employment opportunities and promoting welfare programs for Novo Vizcayanos of all ages.
“Professionally, it may have been a job mismatch for me, but now I find fulfillment in matching Novo Vizcayanos—especially our fellow IPs—with opportunities for growth and employment,” she said.
Minas introduced several innovative programs under PESDO aimed at improving employment outcomes and providing economic relief for underprivileged citizens.
Under her leadership, the Department of Labor and Employment’s Government Internship Program (GIP) was extended from three to six months by aligning it with the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program—without requiring a PLGU counterpart. This move benefited over 1,000 college students in 2021, many of whom secured jobs in public or private agencies, including the PLGU.
Another flagship initiative she introduced is the Youth Employment Bridging Program, a localized version of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), which has benefited over 5,000 out-of-school youth, college, and high school students.
In 2024, the “Trabaho Para Ti Umili” program, a localized version of TUPAD, provided employment opportunities to 2,000 unemployed, underemployed, and calamity-affected individuals—with another 2,000 beneficiaries targeted this year.
To assist low-income Novo Vizcayanos in acquiring a driver’s license, she was instrumental in launching the “Lisensya Mo, Sagut ni Gayyem ti Umili” program of the PLGU. It subsidizes training and licensing fees for 1,000 qualified applicants, equipping them with road safety training and a non-professional driver’s license.
Minas also championed the “Jobs in Need of Gifts” fuel subsidy program, which provides 36 liters of fuel each to 6,000 tricycle drivers affected by rising fuel prices, with P18 million already allocated for this initiative.
PESDO, under her guidance, also oversees the implementation of scholarship programs such as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance-backed ‘Sagut’ (Gift) Scholarship Program and the ‘Doctor Ti Umili’ Scholarship Program, both benefiting a large number of college students.
Another significant achievement was the establishment of the OFW Center at the Provincial Capitol in Bayombong, which now serves as the central hub for Overseas Filipino Workers’ affairs—offering support, referrals, and assistance in coordination with various government agencies.
“We are grateful for the support of our past and present PLGU officials, which enabled us to implement these programs effectively for the benefit of our fellow Novo Vizcayanos,” Minas expressed.
Currently, PESDO is working on institutionalizing barangay-based OFW Desks and creating Municipal PESO Officer positions across the 15 towns of Nueva Vizcaya. Advocacy efforts are underway, starting with Bayombong, for promoting OFW Centers at the barangay level. These centers will address not only OFW concerns but also issues related to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), especially those affecting OFW families.
Minas also lobbied through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the expansion of PESDO from a division to a full department within the PLGU, to accommodate increasing responsibilities and workforce requirements.
Through benchmarking visits, she cited fully developed PESO offices in Ilocos Norte and Lingayen, Pangasinan, as models worth replicating in Nueva Vizcaya.
“With the growing demands on our office, we need to upgrade and enhance our resources so we can continue delivering meaningful services to our fellow Novo Vizcayanos,” Minas emphasized.
Her story is a shining example of how passion, resilience, and a commitment to uplift one’s community can transcend professional boundaries. Truly, Dolly Rose Coteng-Minas continues to push the IP spirit forward—empowering lives, one program at a time. (BME/PIA NVizcaya)
