To provide education and employment opportunities for young individuals, the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to implement the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).This initiative aims to provide practical work experience for students while easing their financial burdens.
Sixty students from Bontoc have been selected to participate in the SPES program. These students will be deployed to various Child Development Centers (CDCs) and barangay LGUs across the municipality starting June 18, 2024.
Gladys Sawi, Labor and Employment Officer II at Public Employment Service Office (PESO), revealed that the 60 slots have been evenly distributed among the 16 barangays of Bontoc.
“Each SPES beneficiary is expected to complete 20 official working days, excluding weekends and holidays,” she added
The SPES initiative, mandated under Republic Act No. 9547, stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to supporting deserving students in their pursuit of education and employment. By bridging the gap between academic learning and practical experience, SPES empowers youth to become competent and competitive individuals in the workforce.
Caria T. Big-asan, Labor and Employment Officer II of the Department of Labor and Employment stated that to help the students gain experience for their future while earning. “The program not only provides students with valuable work experience but also offers them financial compensation. Participants will receive a daily wage of Php502.27, with the Bontoc LGU covering 60% of the salary and the remaining 40% being provided by DOLE,” she explained.
Melanie B. Dongla, SPES beneficiary from Sabangan, Bontoc shares her plan on spending wise her salary, “the money I will gain here would be my allowance for the next school year, it will aid my tuition, help me buy my school supplies and would compensate for my fare in riding transportation”, she said.
According to an article of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, since 1992, SPES has helped hundreds of thousands of students receive quality education. Between 2010 and 2013, SPES assisted 493,742 poor students, 42.5 percent of whom are women. In 2013 alone, SPES provided 167,569 beneficiaries with income-earning opportunities to assist them financially during their education.
As a school-to-work bridging program, SPES helps beneficiaries prepare for the world of work. The program has been expanded to include out-of-school youth and is implemented throughout the year, with the President mandating further increases of the SPES budget since 2010.
Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr., in his message to the students, emphasized the importance of seizing this opportunity to develop essential skills and work ethics that will benefit their future careers.
“I encourage everyone to make the most out of this opportunity, learn diligently, and perform their task with dedication and integrity,” he said.
Moreover, he encouraged them to approach their tasks with morality, underscoring the program’s dual purpose of assistance and skill-building.