DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines -— The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 1 has served 6,207 poor but deserving students through its Special Program for the Employment of Students or SPES, and paid them a total of P15,257,551.27 for their salaries for 2013.
DOLE 1 Regional Director Grace Ursua said the number in 2013 is higher by 1,158 than those placed in 2012 and 782 over the 2013 target benefited from the SPES.
The beneficiaries who worked during their summer vacation are from the four provinces of the region, namely: Pangasinan (3,075); Ilocos Norte (1,493); Ilocos Sur (944) and La Union (695).
The SPES is a bridging employment program, where the students are able to earn for their educational needs through their employment in participating companies, agencies or local government units during summer or Christmas vacations. Under the program, the student-worker receives 60 percent of his/her salary from the employer and 40 percent from the DOLE.
“We are happy that we are able to help more and more poor students every year. It means that every year, we are inching closer to our goal of developing future workers who can contribute to our country’s progress,†Ursua said.
She added that by exposing the worker-students to actual work, the SPES serves as one of the strategies to harness human resources which is the overarching goal of President Aquino in his labor and employment agenda.
Ursua said that recently, Phranny Patol of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, a former SPES beneficiary and a Mass Communications graduate, sent a text message thanking the DOLE-Region 1.
Patol said the SPES helped her finish her education and gave her the opportunity to further enhance her interpersonal relations and communication skills which are important in her chosen field.
“As long as there are thousands more Phrannys who recognize that education and good preparation are key ingredients to greater employability, the DOLE and its partners will remain steadfast in our duties to provide the assistance they need,†Ursua said.
Urusa said for this year, the agency has earmarked about P16.9 million to cover at least 5,425 students.