By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario/PNA
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here has released some PHP13.45 million for the implementation of this year’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in Pampanga.
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) and other sponsor-institutions.
DOLE Regional Director Zenaida-Angara Campita said on Thursday that through the continued support of Governor Lilia Pineda, the SPES program implementation in Pampanga has always been successful.
“The Provincial Public Employment Services Office’s (PESO) close coordination and efforts together with our major stakeholders and partner government and private agencies have greatly contributed to the success of the SPES program. Without our partners, we would never have achieved the success implementation of this program,” Campita said in a media interview.
SPES beneficiary Antonette Mallari, BS Accounting Information System student of the Don Honorio Venture Technological State University, said the SPES program is a great help especially for students who would like to gain work experience.
Meanwhile, Purisima Catangan, mother of SPES beneficiary Jean Claude Catangan of the Holy Cross College in Sta. Ana, Pampanga, said the program boosts the morale of the underprivileged members of society.
Alex Inza Cruz, chief of the DOLE Technical Support and Services Division for Employment and Welfare, said students 15-30 years old can qualify for the SPES. “Students must also have an average passing grade to avail the program,” he added.
The SPES is an annual employment program for students that helps to immerse them in government and private partner agencies in order to hone their sense of leadership and public service.
