June 18, 2026 | News by PISD
18 June 2026, Calapan City – The Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro (PGOM) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) further strengthened its partnership for the expansion of basic educational intervention for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) communities in Oriental Mindoro.
On behalf of PGOM, Governor Humerlito “Bonz” A. Dolor and Vice Governor Antonio S. Perez, Jr., and on behalf of DOLE, OIC-Assistant Secretary Atty. Jebb Lynus Q. Cane and Regional Director Naomi Lyn Abellana.Jr., signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Government Internship Program – Zero Illiteracy and Innumeracy Program (GIP-ZIIP).
GIP-ZIIP, a collaborative program jointly implemented by PGOM and DOLE, aims to strengthen literacy and numeracy among Mangyan communities through GIP educators and Para-teachers who will provide community-based instructions on reading, writing and basic counting.
Since its initial implementation in 2023, ZIIP continues to promote basic education to foster self-confidence among IP learners and enhance their capacity to participate more actively in the community.
Governor Dolor reaffirmed the commitment of the Provincial Government in reaching out IP communities, emphasizing that no IP learner will be left behind during his administration.
As representative of DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino, DOLE OIC-Asst. Sec. Cane also stated that said agreement will ensure that Mangyan communities will be given opportunities to overcome barriers between education and employment.
Meanwhile, First Lady Hiyas Govinda Ramos Dolor, Oriental Mindoro Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (PMR) Board Member Lagtum Pasag, Pola Mayor Jennifer Mindanao Cruz, ZIIP Program Manager Myrna Jimenez, and representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Calapan City, Philippine National Police (PNP) Calapan City Station, National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and PESO Managers Association of Oriental Mindoro, Inc. (PMAOMI) witnessed the official MOA signing.
Beneficiaries of other DOLE programs such as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), JobStart Philippines Program, and Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) were also present.
DOLE and PGOM’s GIP-ZIIP Technical-Working Group including the Provincial Public Employment Office (PPESO), the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the Governor’s Office, along with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) facilitated said event.