BONTOC, Mountain Province – Students and out – of – school youth (OSY) who are to be employed this summer vacation under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) will either be deployed to their respective barangays or to the nursery and demo farm of the Bontoc – Local Government Unit (LGU) to help in the Clean and Green Program of the municipal government.
According to Public Employment Service Officer (PESO) – Designate Jenelyn W. Caluza of the Bontoc –LGU, there are 66 slots available which are distributed to the 16 barangays of the municipality. Of the 66 SPES- beneficiaries, 40 slots are under the Office of the Municipal Mayor while the remaining 26 slots are under the Office of the Municipal Vice Mayor. However, the acceptance of application and requirements for this program is already closed.
Caluza clarified that with the Local Budget Circular No. 115 dated January 3, 2018 of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the Implementation of the Third Tranche Compensation for Local Government Personnel; it affects the rate per day of the SPES –beneficiaries.
She explained that from the P280.00 daily rate of each SPES –beneficiaries in the previous year, it now increased to P406.09 per day as Bontoc is a second class municipality. The increase in the daily wage of the beneficiaries affected the number of applicants to be employed as the budget for this program for this year has been allocated and approved in 2017. Their wages shall come from the 60% share of the Bontoc -LGU and the 40% counterpart of the DOLE.
Caluza emphasized that the selection of SPES beneficiaries is based on the “First Come, First to Comply with Requirements Basis”.
“There is no reservation of slots. We strictly comply with the guidelines especially on the Income Tax Returns (ITRs) of both parents which must not exceed the Provincial Poverty Threshold after tax deduction which is P130, 620.00 per annum. Also, an applicant must have 75% passing grade,” she said.
She added that SPES- beneficiaries will start to work in May and must complete a total number of 20 official working days excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
To hasten the release of their wages, SPES workers are advised to submit the Post- SPES requirements immediately, after the SPES duration. All SPES employees must submit their Daily Time Records (DTRs) and Accomplishment Reports duly signed over printed name by the students and respective supervisors. These shall be submitted to the PESO – Office of the Municipal Mayor and be compiled for the preparation of the SPES salary representing the 60% counterpart of the Bontoc-LGU. After their salary have been processed and released, the PESO shall prepare a Terminal Report to be submitted to the DOLE –Provincial Office for the preparation of the SPES –beneficiaries check representing the 40% counterpart of the DOLE.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsey credited the realization of the program not only due to his action, rather the result of a harmonious alliance and with the unwavering support of the Sangguniang Bayan to the Local Chief Executive (LCE).
Odsey remarked that the program will help the students earn money and gain experience during summer break.
“This will help them in their studies next school year to be used for payment of their tuition fees and other needs in school. We have chosen students who we know will continue their studies next school year. We believe that the program will help them even in little way,” the mayor added.
The SPES, a yearly job generation program of the government, is intended to help poor but deserving students to pursue their studies by providing them employment during vacation to augment their tuition fees for the coming school year. It aims to develop the intellectual capacities of children and harness their potentials for the country’s well-being.
By Alpine L. Killa
