NEGROS Occidental obtained bulk of the fund allocated by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) for its Special Program for Employment of Students (Spes) in Western Visayas.
Of the P22 million Spes fund for this year, the agency allotted almost P8.4 million for the province.
Dole-Western Visayas records showed that it was followed by Iloilo with almost P7.3 million. Other provinces like Capiz have an allocation of P2.2 million; Antique – P1.9 million; Aklan – P1.5 million; and Guimaras – P661,290.
In terms of indicative target of recipients, Negros Occidental also has the highest at 1,299 as well as in target based from the approved pledges at 2,467, it added.
Mary Agnes Capigon, head of Dole-Negros Occidental, said population and poverty threshold are among the factors considered by the agency in allotting fund for its special employment program.
Capigon said the province’s allocation comprises 38 percent of the entire Spes budget for Western Visayas this year.
“Through this program, the agency is committed to help especially poor but deserving students,” she said, adding that population and poverty incidents in Negros Occident might be higher compared to other provinces thus, more beneficiaries are targeted to be covered here.
In 2018, Dole allocated P9.6 million for Negros Occidental covering 3,829 recipients.
For this year, the P22 million fund accounts for 40 percent of the total budget for Spes in the region. The remaining 60 percent is shouldered by partner-employers from the public and private sector.
Spes is mandated under Republic Act 9547 or “an act to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by encouraging their employment during semestral break, summer and Christmas vacations.”
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.
For Negros Occidental alone, 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 pledged P14 million this year.
The student-recipients in the province employed under private establishments are availing the minimum wage of P365 per day.
Payments for those working in government institutions, on the other hand, are based on the prevailing hiring rate.