Ilocos Region SPES employs thousands

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Some 5,787 poor students in the Ilocos Region were placed under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in 2015, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. 

DOLE Regional Director Grace Ursua said the placement, which is 1,393 higher than the 2015 target, shows the strong support of the DOLE’s program partners.

Ursua said 181 employers from local government units, national line agencies, public and private educational institutions, and private companies participated in last year’s SPES. 

Of the total, 1,384 were from Ilocos Norte, 847 from Ilocos Sur and 645 from La Union. In Pangasinan, 879 were from the eastern area, 739 from the central part and 1,293 from the west.  

The DOLE allotted P13,968,674.58 to pay for the 40 percent of the student-workers’ salaries. 

 Ursua commended all participating employers, provincial employment service offices, regional and field office staff for the effort they have put into the SPES program to continue assisting the youth who want to complete their education.