6,000 get summer jobs in Makati

A total of 6,000 students and out-of-school youth will be provided summer jobs by various offices of the Makati City government, Mayor Elenita Binay said yesterday.

Binay said that barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials have started screening applicants for the annual Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and the Government Internship Program (GIP) last week.

A total of 4,000 Makati students and 2,000 out-of-school youth will be hired under the SPES and GIP, respectively.

This year, Binay said that all SPES and GIP interns will be employed by various offices of the city government instead of private firms. All interns shall receive a salary higher than the existing P250 minimum wage.

"Education is our utmost priority so the city government is doing its best to help poor but deserving youth to pursue their studies," the lady mayor said.

To qualify for the SPES and GIP, a Makati student and out-of-school youth should be between 15 to 25 years old and his parents’ combined income must not be more than P36,000 per annum. Only college students will be hired under the GIP.

The GIP will officially be from March 26 up to May 31 while the SPES from April 19 to May 17.

Jimmy Bacamante, chief of the Makati Employment Services Office, said that although the summer employment programs are only for a limited period, an office may opt to extend or retain the services of an interim depending on his performance.

Bacamante added that SPES and GIP application forms can be secured from the SK offices in all the barangays.