GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 has released around PHP42.5 million in salaries to beneficiaries of the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) during the first half of the year.
Sisinio Cano, DOLE-12 regional director, said Wednesday the funds were directly received by a total of 10,375 student-beneficiaries from parts of the region, who qualified for the program’s rollout from January to June.
Cano said some 7,498 beneficiaries were employed by local government units (LGUs) and government agencies while 2,877 were absorbed by the private sector. Most of them were employed under the summer SPES component implemented from April to June.
The official said the released salaries during the first half represented 81.40 percent of the region’s total allocation of P52.3 million for the period.
Based on the validated summary work and financial report released by DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment, he said Region 12 received the highest allocation and utilization rate among Mindanao regions from January to June.
Cano said the accomplishment was a huge boost for the program’s continuing expansion in the region, adding that it helped students continue with their studies.
“To note that it’s our region that had one of the highest allocations and highest in Mindanao in terms of budget utilization is something to celebrate,” Cano said.
SPES is a flagship program implemented by local government units and DOLE to assist poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths intending to pursue their education to gain employment during summer, Christmas vacation or any time of the year.
DOLE provides 40 percent of the beneficiaries’ salaries, which is based on an area’s prevailing minimum daily wage rate, while the employing offices or establishments shoulder the remaining 60 percent. (PNA)
