Through the Government Internship Program (GIP), the Mountain Province Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) employed 121 beneficiaries from the province’s different local government units and agencies. The program aims to provide opportunities and engage young workers to serve the general public in government.
Caria T. Big-asan, Employment Officer II of DOLE-MP, said that this government program caters to individuals such as senior high school graduates and fresh college graduates who are unemployed and looking for jobs, allowing them to showcase their skills and talents. She added that GIP serves as a gateway to employment in government offices.
“Icater tayo isuda ta itry da nga ipadas da nga agtrabaho ti public service ken no makita dan to idiay nga mayat ket mabalin dan to nga ipursue nga maging empleyado to iti dayta nga office,” she added.
According to Big-asan, their office currently has 121 beneficiaries for the GIP deployed across government offices in the province. The 63 beneficiaries started their internship in May, while others were deployed in February. These beneficiaries will work for a minimum of three months to a maximum of six months.
Furthermore, the office stated that a total of 6,899,280 pesos is allotted for the stipends or allowances of the interns. Meanwhile, the 63 interns deployed on May 27 are sponsored by the Office of Congressman Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
While the office generally accepts walk-in applicants for the program, the hiring process depends on the availability of funds. However, aspiring applicants who have already submitted their applications have nothing to worry about since the office will reach out and inform them when funds are available or another batch for the program is made.
Regarding the allowance or stipends of the interns, Big-asan said that it is based on the highest minimum wage in the province.
“Ti stipend da dagitoy GIP ket no anya ti highest minimum wage ditoy region tayo, ket diay highest minimum wage tayo ditoy Cordillera ket 430 pesos. So diyay ti maala da per day nga agtrabaho da. Ngem saan da agtrabaho ti holidays ken weekends ta awan allowance da,” she said.
Moreover, even though the beneficiaries of the internship program do not have benefits like regular government employees, Employment Officer Big-asan emphasized that what they get is opportunity and experience. When the beneficiaries finish their internship in the government offices where they are deployed, they are given a certificate of completion that they can use for employment. Also, there are cases where government offices directly hire them.
In an interview, Valery Odayan, a government intern under GIP deployed in February, shared that she was grateful to qualify for the program, as it allowed her to earn a stipend to support herself while waiting for her board exam.
“When our school announced plans to hire interns under the program, I hurried to submit the required documents. I was hired and saw it as an opportunity. Since starting my internship, I have learned a lot from the office where I am deployed. I will surely apply the skills and knowledge I acquired after I complete my six-month internship,” she imparted.
To qualify and become a beneficiary of the Government Internship Program, one must be 18–30 years old with no work experience or intermittent work experience and at least a high school, alternative learning system, technical vocational, or college graduate.