Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Virginia N. Orogo hands out food packs to Aetas during a dialogue to discuss the plight of Indigenous People in Capas, Tarlac.   Assisting the Secretary are Undersecretary Hope Hervilla (center) and Undersecretary Francisco Domagoso (partly hidden).

Some 500 Aetas attended the dialogue where they raised their issues and concerns such as their possible inclusion to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,  the absence of electric and water services, as well as farm to market roads in their communities, and the difficulty of getting health services from hospitals and health centers.

Usec. Hervilla assured the IPs that the Department is ready to listen to the problems, requests, and complaints of the IPs and it will find ways to provide solutions. ###