350 Manileños complete summer employment program

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza reported yesterday that some 350 young Manileños have completed a four-week on-the-job training under the Manila Youth Summer Employment Program (MYSEP).

"The MYSEP was designed to make summer vacation fruitful and worthwhile for our young residents," he said, adding that "the youth must use this time to learn new things to develop and enhance their talents."

Atienza said the summer program aims to develop the intellectual capacities of students and out-of-school youth from indigent families. It likewise seeks to teach the values of volunteerism and public service among the young participants.

The MYSEP is chaired by former Councilor Kim Atienza. Its implementing arm is the Manila Youth Development and Welfare Bureau (MYDWB) headed by director Jason Valencia and deputy director Ryan Ponce.

The MYSEP, which started last April 11 ended May 6.

Some of the activities that the MYSEP lined up for its participants include various cleanup drives, barangay immersions, organizing and updating of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Councils and other youth organizations and office work training at the different departments of City Hall under the supervision of senior employees.

Each participant in the program has earned a salary of P4,620, some 60 percent of which came from the city government of Manila and 40 percent from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

"As the city government continues to provide job and livelihood opportunities to its constituents, especially to poor but deserving young Manileños, we also instill in them the sense of responsibility that will keep them more productive individuals," Atienza said.