By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
BARAS, Rizal — The members of the Dumagat Remontado tribe in this town in Rizal province on Saturday (Oct. 5) expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the medical mission extended to them by the Pinoy Ako organization.
Famous social media influencer Boss Toyo is supporting and endorsing Pinoy Ako organization.
Jason Lozada, more popularly known as Boss Toyo, is a member of Pinoy Ako.
He assured the Dumagats that Pinoy Ako will fight for their rights under the IPRA Law.
Team Buo composed of Perla Geronimo Tesoro, niece of Mayor Latigo, Renato Nato Llagas, incumbent Baras Councilor Carlos Llagas, Bastian Vallestero, Jojo EIago, Jun Pango Robles, Erwin Santos, Jay Sambilay and Dadies Matamis showed their full and unwavering support to Pinoy Ako organization, to its advocacy and to the medical mission.
They vowed to exert all efforts to disseminate the advocacy of Pinoy Ako organization and enforce the IPRA Law.
Construction is the source of livelihood of some of the residents of Sitio San Roque, Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal.
Pinoy Ako is an organization composed of professionals and ordinary workers who inclusively would like to elevate the standard of living of Indigenous Peoples such as the Dumagats of Rizal.
Pinoy Ako organization seeks to strengthen the IPRA (Indigenous People’s Right Act) in order to protect the rights of the IPs to decent livelihood, health and various medicines.
In an interview by the Mabuhay News online, chieftain Ricky Dela Cruz, 42, said that there are 75 families of Dumagat Remontado tribe in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Pinugay, adding that, 10 tribes are located in Antipolo City.
The Dumagats are engaged in planting, mountain works, tribal works, coconut, corn and rice planting.
Dela Cruz said that during calamities, the local government unit of Baras is extending assistance to them such as distribution of food packs.
The titles on the land properties of the Dumagats of 13,000 hectares in Antipolo City and Baras were obtained through the Certificate of Ancestral Domain and Titlements (CADTs), the big part of which, belong to the tribes in Antipolo City.
Dela Cruz said that they were told to avail of the services to be provided in the medical mission, hence, they participated in the medical mission.
He added that some of them are driving tricycles.
Barangay Pinugay has its own ambulance such that if there’s an emergency, just inform the Barangay.
The water in the community is sourced from the mountain spring and the electricity comes from Meralco.
The Dumagats were provided with bagful of T-shirt, canned goods, noodles, 3 kilos of rice, Skyflakes and various medicines.
In an interview by the Mabuhay News online, chieftain Ricky Dela Cruz, 42, said that there are 75 families of Dumagat Remontado tribe in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Pinugay, 10 tribes of which are located in Antipolo City.
Dela Cruz said that they are very grateful for Pinoy Ako organization for their medical mission which they are now receiving, which is seldom being done to them.
According to Dela Cruz, the “Non-IPs” are the ones affected by the land dispute between the towns of Baras and Tanay in the Masungi Georeserve Protected Area. October of each year is observed as “Indigenous Peoples Month”.
Dela Cruz was appointed chieftain by the “Rapu”, which is the highest governing body of their tribe.
Boss Toyo said that he is a member of Pinoy Ako organization with advocacy to go to all Indigenous People’s in the country such as the Dumagat tribe to provide them with medical mission.
They have visited the tribes in San Gabriel, La Union as well as the Dumagat and other IPs.
It all started when they went to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan and they saw there the lack of basic services in the Aeta tribe in the area.
Lozada saw the advocacy to help the IPs in Pinoy Ako organization to strengthen the IPRA Law, livelihood programs for Filipinos who are Indigenous Peoples.
He would like to go to the far-flung areas where there are IPs, which have not yet been visited in order to help them and protect their rights under the IPRA Law and provide them with livelihood opportunities.
Tesoro would like to visit the far-flung areas of Baras, which she now saw for the first time so that the people who are not recognized will be recognized such as the Dumagats of Baras, Rizal.
Tesoro said that the Baras United Opposition was established by Atag, which is now seeking the elective posts in Baras, Rizal.
They are grateful that they were selected to serve the people of Baras, especially Barangay Pinugay, whose residents are really the less fortunate residents of Baras.
They filed their respective Certificates of Candidacy (COC) on Oct. 3, 2024.
If elected into office, Tesoro will prioritize the cleanup of the river, waste management, drainage system to stop Dengue, repair of dilapidated Maylipay Road, to solve illegal drugs, robberies, and peace and order, especially in Barangay Pinugay.
Baras is composed of nine Barangays.
Pinugay is the biggest Barangay in Baras, Rizal.
