THE Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Special Program for the Employment of Students (Spes) will benefit some 60 poor but deserving students in Labason, Zamboanga del Norte.

Lawyer Roy Buenafe said they earmarked a budget of P210,000 representing DOLE's counterpart of 40 percent for beneficiaries' stipend.

The remaining 60 percent will be shouldered by the Municipal Government of Labason.

"The students will be assigned to different government agencies in Labason and will work for 20 days," Buenafe said.

"The program's goal is to acquaint these beneficiaries with actual work so that skills may be further developed. Aside from that, this will also help them earn for their school needs," Buenafe added.

The identified beneficiaries of the program have undergone program orientation conducted by DOLE's satellite office in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, in partnership with the Municipal Government of Labason.

Salvador Macaambac, Public Employment Service Office manager of Labason, encouraged the beneficiaries to work hard and be grateful of the opportunity provided to them.

Spes is DOLE's youth employment-bridging program that aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during summer and/or Christmas vacation or any time of the year to augment the family's income to help ensure that beneficiaries are able to pursue their education. (SunStar Zamboanga)