SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — A total of 549 youth in Occidental Mindoro started working in various government offices in the province through the Department of Labor and Employment’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (DOLE-SPES).
Under the DOLE-SPES, the hired beneficiaries will work for 20 to 22 days in its partner local government units as administrative aides performing various tasks such as encoding, filing, assisting, and other administrative functions.
DOLE Provincial Director Peter James D. Cortazar emphasized in his message saying, “This program not only alleviates the financial burden of our poor [and] deserving students but also equips them with practical skills and experience crucial for their personal and professional development.”
The youth beneficiaries were at least 15 to 30 years old, elementary, junior, or senior high school, college, or technical-vocational level who were underprivileged, including out-of-school-youths.
Henry Cortuna, a SPES beneficiary from the Mangyan Buhid Tribe in Brgy. Monteclaro in San Jose, expressed his gratitude to DOLE for the opportunity given to him to be part of the program.
“Ako po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa DOLE dahil ako po ay napasama sa SPES. Malaking tulong po ito sa akin na makapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral at makamit ang pangarap ko na makatulong din sa aking tribo,” he said.
(I am very grateful to DOLE because I was included as a beneficiary of SPES. This is a big help for me to be able to continue my studies and achieve my dream of helping my tribe as well.)
Each beneficiary will receive a salary starting at P413.64 to P561.36 per day.
The SPES is DOLE’s youth employment-bridging program which 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 can pursue their education. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
