PESO invites poor students to apply for summer job

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Employment and Services Office (PESO) is inviting poor but deserving high school and college students to apply for a summer job opportunity.

Julius Chua, PESO Labor and Employment Officer, said they have started last month the free orientation for applicants who will be assessed if they can qualify for the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

The free orientation is intended to inform students on the processes in applying for a job and in receiving salaries in order to avoid confusions.

“Ato sila i-orient aron maka-experience sila kon unsaon pag-apply og trabaho. Unsa’y angay andamon mintras nag-eskuwela pa sila tungod kay sa oras nga mo-graduate sila, adto man gyud sila padulong.” Chua said.

(We orient them on how to apply for a job, what are the things to prepare while still in school because after graduation they will eventually look for a job)

After the free orientation, applicants were subjected to preliminary interview and screening.

Chua said the program is open for poor students who need financial support for their studies. However, honor students or scholars are priority.

PESO started accepting applications in January 25 until March 18. So far, over 100 students have applied.

All applicants need to submit their resume; application letter; and birth or baptismal certificate. PESO also required the final grade and school certification signed by the high school principal or by the college registrar.

Chua said an applicant must be an honor student in high school and must be a scholar in college.

Non-honor students may be accommodated provided that they come from the marginalized sector.

A student must have obtained at least an average passing grade during the last semester or school year he or she attended. To prove that the applicant comes from a low-income family, he or she should present the Bureau of Internal Revenue exemption of both parents; or combined net income after tax of parents, including his or her income not exceeding the regional poverty threshold.

Chua said PESO will facilitate the qualified SPES beneficiaries in getting a summer job by referring them to private companies or local government units.

He said by March 18, PESO will begin referrals for the qualified beneficiaries and hopefully they can start working on April 1.

He said the number of working days may vary for each beneficiary depending on what is approved or agreed by the company and the Department of Labor and Employment provided that it will not exceed 72 days.

Once the student is hired, the company will monitor his or her performance and report to PESO.

SPES is an employment bridging program that aims to support poor students to finish their studies.— Jahzeel Willow S. Coquico, USC Intern, FPL, (FREEMAN)