GUIMARAS – A total of 230 Guimarasnon students have benefited from the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the provincial government of Guimaras this year.
The student beneficiaries that came from the five municipalities of the province gathered for a culminating activity on Aug. 15 at the provincial covered gym.
During the 20-day duration of the program, the beneficiaries were tasked to conduct survey of skills requirements of business establishments, initiate barangay communal vegetable garden within their areas, clean-up and clearing drive as response to the rising cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the province.
Provincial Administrator Emmanuel Galila said students today are lucky because the government has a program like this that will help them with their financial needs.
He said the exposure of SPES beneficiaries to the work in the public sector is also important.
DOLE OIC Provincial Head Richie Buyco assured that SPES will continue as long as the government has source of funds.
The student beneficiaries will receive a daily wage rate of P464.94 wherein 60% of which will be paid by the provincial government of Guimaras and 40% will be provided by DOLE.
SPES is an employment bridging program during summer or Christmas vacation of students that aims to augment the family’s income of the poor but deserving students.
The program was designed to encourage poor but deserving students and out of school youth to pursue their education by providing them income through employment./PN
