OLONGAPO CITY- 248 deserving students landed summer jobs and started working last April 10, 2012 through the government’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Out of the 248 SPES student-beneficiaries this year, 142 were assigned to various city government departments, 71 in private establishments and 35 at the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Brgy. Sta Rita.

Said students report at their respective workplaces from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. to complete the 176 SPES required hours. The beneficiaries will finish their 22 days of summer training on May 11, 2012.

The SPES is an annual project of the Department of Labor and Employment and the city government with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) as the lead agency.

Through the SPES, students aged 15 to 21 years old are given the chance to experience the real workplace environment and earn money at the same time for their continuing education.

‘’Every year, the city government carries out this program to help needy  but deserving students pursue their high school and college studies,” said Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr.

Likewise, Mayor Gordon advised the SPES beneficiaries to do their jobs well and make the most out of the opportunities given to them.

However, he also reminded the beneficiaries that said employment is just for the summer vacation and that students “should always prioritize their studies because their college diplomas will be soon be their tickets to better opportunities.”

It can be recalled that education is one of Mayor Gordon’s primary agenda in his HELPS (Health, Education & Environment, Labor & Livelihood, Peace and Order, Social Services and Sports) program.        

Last year, the PESO was able to employ 232 SPES beneficiaries whose salary during the summer break helped them continue their studies.

According to the PESO, to be a SPES beneficiary, applicants must have good academic standing, should qualify as financially needy and must be planning to enroll in the succeeding school year or semester.

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine