President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been consistently undertaking strategic steps to enhance and ensure the employability of young Filipinos – including poor but deserving students as well as out-of-school-youth (OSY) – to prepare them for the future.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2024, the President mentioned the concerted efforts of different agencies to boost the potential and employability of young Filipinos.
He said during the Labor Day with the President that year, “Last September, I also signed the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act to bolster our jobs creation efforts, which help address various challenges like jobs-skills mismatch, underemployment, and youth unemployment.”
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said one vital measure for youth employment is the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), which is primarily implemented by the department.
SPES, he said, helps students and OSY from poor families to finance their education while gaining work experience. Based on DOLE records, several SPES beneficiaries have already become professionals such as engineers, accountants, office executives and many others.
To further maximize the contribution of SPES to the success of young Filipinos and to the country’s job generation and facilitation efforts, the Marcos Jr. administration has strengthened the program and increased its budget allocation.
Bigger budget
DOLE SPES has been allotted ₱828.9 million under the fiscal year 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), as confirmed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
In 2023, SPES was allocated ₱585 million.
The DBM noted, “Nagkaroon po ito ng substantial na increase…” It pointed out that “it aligns with the key priorities of the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028, focusing on developing and protecting the capabilities of individuals and families; transforming production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive products; and creating an enabling environment.”
How SPES helps the youth
According to DOLE Bureau of Labor and Employment (BLE): “SPES is a program created under Republic Act 7323, series of 1999, as amended by Republic Act 9547. It is intended to help poor but deserving students and out-of-school youth (OSY) pursue their education by encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacation, through incentives granted to employers, allowing them to pay only 60% of their salaries or wages and the 40% through education vouchers to be paid by the government.”
SPES participants are:
-students and Out-of-School Youth (OSY)
-at least 15 but not more than 25 years of age
-combined net income after tax of parents, including his/her own income, must not exceed the latest annual regional poverty threshold level for a family of six as determined and provided by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
-students must have obtained at least an average passing grade during the last school year/term attended
-OSY should be of good moral character
For Secondary/High School students, SPES is applicable during summer and/or Christmas vacation only. During summer implementation, the number of days shall neither be less than 20 working days nor more than 52 working days. During Christmas implementation, the number of days shall neither be less than 10 working days nor more than 15 working days.
Any dependent of displaced or about to be displaced workers due to business closure or work stoppage as reported to DOLE, may also apply under the SPES provided he/she meets the qualifications.
The period of employment under SPES shall not exceed 52 working days within one (1) year.
SPES in 2024
SPES is among DOLE’s various youth employability programs that provided technical and core/soft skills to 172,751 young Filipinos in 2024. For the first half of that year, 18,354 students got temporary employment through SPES.
In SOCCSKSARGEN or Region XII comprising South Cotabato (Cotabato del Sur), Cotabato (Cotabato del Norte), Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos, 2,423 poor but deserving students from Senior High School, Tech-Voc education and College benefitted from SPES in 2024. They included 902 “SPES babies,” a label given to SPES beneficiaries who had availed of the program for the whole duration of their college education until graduation. The Region’s SPES was implemented in partnership with 67 employers.
In Zamboanga City, 1,503 high school students were given SPES temporary work in field offices and villages in the city. The program provided a 20-day work opportunity for the students, in which each beneficiary earned a daily wage of ₱590.13, amounting to a total of ₱11,802.60 for the duration of the program.
In Calamba, Laguna, 1,500 students benefited as they worked in SPES partner employers in the city.
In Central Aurora, 374 students benefited from the SPES implemented in the province. They each received a pay of ₱4,254.56 for their temporary work.
In Lumban, Laguna, 319 youths benefited from SPES implementation for 20 days. The beneficiaries were assigned to different areas where they were tasked with doing their respective duties, such as conducting surveys, encoding, and office work.
In San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, 210 youths benefited as temporary assistants in SPES partner employers which included the LGU, some National Government Agencies, and private companies such as fastfood outlets.
Meanwhile, DOLE Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) reported a total of 931 SPES beneficiaries in Abra; 743 in Benguet; 692 in Mt. Province; 603 in Kalinga; 482 in Ifugao; 361 in Apayao; and 226 in Baguio City.
Words of appreciation
Carinah A. of Cagayan expressed gratitude to DOLE, President Marcos Jr. and their local government unit (LGU) for bringing SPES to them. She said, “Thank you very much for all the help and assistance when I was still one of your SPES babies. May you continue to bring services to the grassroots and community.”
Christine R. of Meycauayan, Bulacan said, “Thank you so much po, DOLE, Meycauayan LGU, and President Bongbong Marcos sa pagbibigay sa amin ng SPES.”
A beneficiary in Tarlac said, “Maraming salamat po DOLE at PBBM. Sa pamamagitan ng SPES ay natutugunan po ang ibang pangangailan namin sa aming pag-aaral.”
One very successful SPES baby is Kyla C. who took up Bachelor of Science in Cooperatives Major in Cooperative Education and Community Development at a Manila University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2024. She thanked the SPES for providing her the opportunity to complete her education.
Strategic job generation and employment facilitation agenda
Secretary Laguesma said SPES is aligned with the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 and with the 2024 National Employment Summit.
He likewise stressed the importance of promoting youth employability through education and training, consistent with industry requirements through the support of private sector employers.
“Through the training and internship that SPES partner employers offer, beneficiaries gain hands-on experience in real-world environments, industry-specific skills, professional development, and mentorship. When we invest in our youth, especially those in the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, we provide them with the tools and the support they need to reach their full potential,” the DOLE chief said.
Secretary Laguesma underscored that SPES has become a part of the strategic job generation and employment facilitation agenda of the Marcos Jr. administration.
