SOME 2,467 students in Negros Occidental are availing the Special Program for Employment of Students (Spes) of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).
Mary Agnes Capigon, head of Dole-Negros Occidental, said the agency has allocated almost P8.4 million for the implementation of the program in the province this year.
Capigon said this is on top of almost P14 million allotted by 34 participating public and private employers including schools, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and private establishments like fast food chains, among others.
“The number of students is actually our target recipients this year based on the approved pledges and budget totaling to about P22 million,” she said, adding that their 20 working days start from April until this month.
Spes is mandated under Republic Act 9547 or “an act to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by encouraging their employment during summer and Christmas vacations through incentives granted to employers, allowing them to pay only 60 percent of their salaries or wages, and 40 percent through education vouchers to be paid by the government.”
The labor department said the program is aimed at developing the intellectual capacities of children of poor families and harnessing their potentials and skills for the country’s well-being.
It covers students and drop-outs with intention to continue schooling, age 15 to 25 years old, and who are enrolled during the present school year immediately preceding the summer vacation, it added.
Capigon said in terms of rates, student-recipients in the province employed under private establishments will avail of the minimum wage of P365 per day.
For government institutions, on the other hand, the payment depends on the prevailing hiring rate.
Capigon said the program that bridges and facilitates employment helps students in terms of finances in school.
“It will also give them the chance to have real work experience necessary for their personal development especially on how to deal with clients,” she said, adding that students are enabled to translate into income their free time during this semestral or summer break.
In 2018, Dole-Negros Occidental covered 3,829 beneficiaries with its counterpart fund of about P9.6 million.
The number of recipients was higher than the last year’s target of 2,377.
Like the previous years, recipient-students applied in their respective Public Employment Service Offices.
They were required to submit birth certificate, school card, and parents’ income tax return (ITR) of not more than P108,000 annually.