THE Zamboanga City Government has allocated a total of P19.83 million for the implementation of the Summer Program for the Employment of Students (Spes) this year.

Public Employment Service Office (Peso) Manager Ma. Socorro Rojas said Tuesday, May 11, that this year's target beneficiaries of the program are 2,665 students.

Rojas, who is also the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) chief, said the P19.83-million allocation represents the 60 percent counterpart of the City Government to the Spes, which is a joint undertaking with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Rojas said that under the program, 1,400 students are employed for the first batch that are dispatched from April 21 to May 14, while 1,265 students will be hired for the second batch that will be deployed from July 15 to August 6.

She said each student will receive a salary of P10,500 for the 20-day work-period.

She added that the amount is equivalent to P525.04 salary per day.

Of the total salary per month, P6,300.40 or 60 percent will be paid by the local government, while P4,200.40 or 40 percent will come from DOLE. (SunStar Zamboanga)