CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here has allotted some PHP111.43 million for the implementation of this year’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in Central Luzon.
The amount represents the 40 percent government’s share for the salary of the SPES student-beneficiaries.
The remaining 60 percent share will be shouldered by participating private companies and national government agencies (NGAs); while participating local government units’ (LGUs) approved-share will be based on their corresponding classification.
Newly-assigned DOLE Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita on Wednesday said some 445 employers in the region — comprising 301 private firms, 129 LGUs, three national government agencies, five non-government organization (NGOs), two state universities/colleges and five private schools, would participate in this year’s SPES.
Angara-Campita asked the DOLE’s program partners and beneficiaries for their continued support and cooperation for the regional SPES implementation.
“As the newest member of the DOLE Central Luzon family, I look forward to a fruitful and meaningful partnership with our various program partners in providing meaningful opportunities for poor but deserving students in pursuing their education at the same time experience the real world of work through the SPES,” she said.
Meanwhile, Angara-Campita further said the SPES registration and screening process had already been undertaken for its implementation this month.
“As early as January, our Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) have facilitated the screening, matching, and selection process of SPES aspirants in close coordination with their respective LGUs and participating firms from the private sector,” she said.
“To date, the final listing of qualified beneficiaries is now being prepared and would be subjected to final orientation and briefing for the eventual start of their employment in the coming weeks,” she added.
For his part, Technical Support and Services Division for Employment and Welfare head Alejandro Inza Cruz said participating students would be working for around 20 to 28 working days.
Cruz added the SPES-beneficiaries will be receiving salaries based on the prevailing minimum and applicable LGU wage-rates in the region. (Zorayda Tecson/PNA)
