ILOILO CITY — The city government on Friday released the salary of 144 of the 154 students who worked under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).
Ma. Elena Benitez, head of the Public Employment Service Office at the Iloilo City Hall, said the city government employed them last summer, some worked for 20 days while others for 30 days.
Those who were given 30 days duty have already experienced being employed in the program since they were 15 years old, said Benitez.
“The mission and vision of this program is for them to finish college. That is one way of supporting them,” she said.
The students were paid 60 percent of the PHP323.50 prevailing minimum wage of Western Visayas a day. The 40 percent is shouldered by the Department of Labor and Employment.
During the program, the students were assigned in various offices at the city hall to give them an idea of the “real world” that they will be encountering after graduation.
Benitez said the amount they received was of big help especially that they will be paying for their tuition in time for their preliminary exam.
Meanwhile, 17-year old Marla Aleckzandrew C. Vargas, Grade 12 student at the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) said she enjoyed working at the Public Information Office.
“It was fun and I got to enhance my skills in terms of writing speeches and covering news,” she said.
She added her salary will be of big help especially that she still has to pay for her books and other miscellaneous fees in school.
Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III in his message advised the students to “enjoy your work” just like what he is doing.
“It should not be work, it should be ministry for you to enjoy,” he said. (Perla Lena/PNA)
