Some 1,000 students and out-of-school residents in Taguig City earned cash and learned skills by participating in the Special Program for Employment of Students initiated by the city government during the school break this year.
Beneficiaries were tasked to work for 20 days with the local government, or 45 days with the city’s private sector partners.
The city government on June 13 deployed the third and last batch of young earners, composed of 150 beneficiaries, who are expected to finish the program on July 11.
On June 15, the Public Employment Services Office distributed the salaries of the first batch of summer workers at the City Hall auditorium. The 456 beneficiaries all finished work on May 29.
“We consider SPES as one of the most relevant programs of our government because it helps the out-of-school youth to pursue their studies and to help their parents in their day-to-day needs,” said PESO officer-in-charge Norman Mirabel.
Mirabel noted that 40 percent of the beneficiaries’ salary was released by the Department of Labor and Employment, while the local government and private employers provided the remaining 60 percent. Taguig City also distributed free T-shirts to the youth.
“The importance of this program to our city is that it serves as a bridge for Taguigeño students and out-of-school youth who need financial assistance. Through this program, our youth gain work experience and knowledge working with different kinds of people,” he said.
Taguig started implementing the SPES program in 2011 and has already benefited around 5,000 students as of 2016.
To be eligible for the program, an applicant should be 15 to 25 years old.
All applicants submitted three copies of a registration Form 01 with ID pictures, validated by the school principal or registrar; any document attesting to his or her age; any document attesting to the student’s academic standing; the latest income tax return of the student’s parents; or a certification from the employer or union president that the parent of the applicant is to be displaced or has been displaced from work.
With the implementation of SPES in Taguig, Mayor Laarni Cayetano said students and out-of-school youth are given the opportunity to gain work experience and at the same time earn extra income during summer.
The SPES, a project of the Department of Labor, is a program implemented to help enrich the lives of poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths through summer jobs.
“We always encourage our youths to take this annual opportunity for them to be productive and make their time worthwhile during the school break. This experience enriches them in terms of gaining work knowledge apart from harnessing their expertise when they participate in a real working environment,” Cayetano said.
After finishing their SPES time and when school season starts again, the out-of-school youths who participated can use their earnings to help their parents enroll them back to school.
“Poverty should not become a hindrance in our quest for academic excellence. We, in the City of Taguig, believe that investing in education can change lives. By supporting the program of DOLE, there is an assurance that the beneficiaries will be continuing their studies in the coming school year,” Cayetano said.
SPES is also offered to high school students during Christmas break. Tertiary, technical or vocational education and out-of-school-youths can apply anytime.
