DOLLY ROSE COTENG-MINAS Head Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Employment Service Division Office
“I left behind the perks of working in the public health sector, but I found greater satisfaction in serving our fellow Indigenous people.”
IT may be a job mismatch on paper, but for Dolly Rose Coteng-Minas, her 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, Coteng-Minas began her career as a school nurse at Baguio City High School alongside her husband, Rogelio. They are blessed with five children.
Her career journey took her from the rural health unit in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, 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 people (IP),” Coteng-Minas shared.
Her immersion in upland barangay (villages) — 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.
Dolly Rose Coteng-Minas (right, top photo) with the author Ben Moses Ebreo of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), while photo below receiving the PIA Cagayan Valley Information Center Iddu Award from PIA Director General Katherine de Castro and regional head Angely Mercado. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
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.
Coteng-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.
Dolly Rose Coteng-Minas (right, top photo) with the author Ben Moses Ebreo of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), while photo below receiving the PIA Cagayan Valley Information Center Iddu Award from PIA Director General Katherine de Castro and regional head Angely Mercado. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
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 nonprofessional driver’s license.
Coteng-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’ (OFWs) 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,” Coteng-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 under way, 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, especially those affecting OFW families.
Coteng-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,” Coteng-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. PIA
Key takeaways
– Passion over professional background: Dolly Rose Coteng-Minas, despite a background as a nurse and clinical instructor, found her true calling and deep fulfillment in her role as head of Pesdo. This highlights how passion and a commitment to service can outweigh traditional job descriptions.
– Empowering Indigenous peoples (IPs): As a proud Kankanaey herself, Coteng-Minas is deeply committed to empowering fellow IPs. Her personal experience with discrimination fuels her drive to help IPs stand on equal footing, making her work more impactful and personal.
– Innovative program development: Under her leadership, Pesdo has launched several impactful and innovative programs that address critical employment and welfare needs in Nueva Vizcaya. These include:
– Extended Government Internship Program aligned with Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad): Benefited over 1,000 college students, many securing jobs afterward.
– Youth Employment Bridging Program: A localized SPES benefiting over 5,000 out-of-school youth, college and high school students.
– “Trabaho Para Ti Umili” (localized Tupad): Provided employment to thousands of unemployed, underemployed and calamity-affected individuals.
– “Lisensya Mo, Sagut ni Gayyem ti Umili” (driver’s license program): Subsidizes training and licensing fees for low-income citizens, equipping 1,000 applicants with essential skills.
– “Jobs in Need of Gifts” (fuel subsidy): Provided fuel assistance to 6,000 tricycle drivers affected by rising fuel prices.
– Various scholarship programs: Overseeing scholarships like “Sagut” and “Doctor Ti Umili” for college students.
– Strategic expansion and institutionalization: Coteng-Minas is actively working to institutionalize and expand Pesdo’s reach and capacity. This includes establishing barangay-based OFW desks, creating municipal PESO officer positions and lobbying for Pesdo to become a full department within the PLGU, recognizing the growing demands for their services.
– Commitment to OFWs: A significant achievement is the establishment of the OFW Center at the Provincial Capitol, serving as a central hub for overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFWs) affairs and providing crucial support. Future plans involve extending these services to the barangay level, integrating concerns like violence against women and children affecting OFW families.
– Collaborative leadership: Coteng-Minas acknowledges the vital support from past and present PLGU officials, emphasizing that effective program implementation relies on strong collaboration and backing from local government.
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