By Erwin Nicavera/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — A total of PHP22.4 million has been allocated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and its partner-employers for the implementation of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) in Negros Occidental province this year.
Mary Agnes Capigon, head of DOLE-Negros Occidental, said Monday, the fund will allow the hiring of up to 2,467 beneficiaries.
The DOLE has set aside almost PHP8.4 million for the program implementation for 2019 while about PHP14 million has been allotted by 34 participating public and private employers, including schools, local government units, non-government organizations, and private establishments, among them fast food chains.
“Our target is (2,467) students as recipients this year, based on the approved pledges and budget totaling to about PHP22 million,” Capigon said.
The hired students have 20 working days scheduled between April and May.
Student-recipients in Negros Occidental employed under private establishments will avail of the minimum wage of PHP365 per day.
In government institutions, the payment depends on the prevailing hiring rate.
The SPES is mandated under Republic Act 9547 to “help poor but deserving students pursue their education by encouraging their employment during summer and Christmas vacations through incentives granted to employers, allowing them to pay only 60 percent of their salaries or wages, and 40 percent through education vouchers to be paid by the government.”
The DOLE said the program aims to develop the intellectual capacities of children of poor families and harness their potentials and skills for the country’s well-being.
The program covers students and drop-outs with intention to continue schooling, aged 15 years to 25 years, and who are enrolled during the present school year immediately preceding the summer vacation, it added.
In 2018, DOLE-Negros Occidental covered 3,829 beneficiaries and extended a counterpart fund of about PHP9.6 million.
Last year’s number of recipients was higher than the target of 2,377.
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