Tuesday, April 17, 2007 City launches P7 million SPES 2007 program
MAYOR Celso Lobregat officially launched Monday the implementation of Zamboanga City's Summer Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), a program jointly undertaken with the Department of Labor and Employment.
Lobregat increased the allocation for the SPES this year to P7 million that will ensure the employment of over 3,000 high school and college students this year.
In an address before the 1,525 SPES beneficiaries during the orientation at the City Coliseum Monday, Lobregat urged the students to take advantage of the program in a bid to pursue their education and eventually be gainfully employed.
College students coming from different barangays compose the first batch of SPES beneficiaries. Two hundred ninety five of them, dubbed as SPES babies, will work for 30 days (April 16-May 29) while the rest will work for 20 days (April 16-May 15).
Each student will receive P171.72 daily, in which 60 percent of the amount will come from the City Government while 40 percent will be shouldered by the labor department.
The second batch, composed of almost 2, 000 high school students, will commence work middle of May.
Lobregat has expressed elation that the city government has been instrumental in the realization of the dreams of poor but deserving youths in the city to pursue studies and be profitably employed in the city government or other agencies.
Meanwhile, the DOLE, through the chief of the employment promotions division has lauded Mayor Lobregat for his "unstinted support and cooperation in undertaking the SPES."
The P7 million allocation for SPES this year is P.6 million more than last year's budget of P6.4 million.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo, whose office is in charge in implementing the program, presented at least 8 SPES beneficiaries who are now gainfully employed after finishing college through the assistance of the city's SPES.
Lobregat emphasized that the unity and cooperation of all city officials have ensured the smooth implementation of the different programs of the city such as the SPES. He called on the beneficiaries and the barangay officials present during the orientation to support the present administration in its bid to continue the plans and programs it has started. (SE)
