DAGUPAN CITY -- A total of 3,706 students and out-of-school youths (OSYs) in Region 1 have been employed under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) during this year’s summer vacation.
Field Labor Communication Officer Panfilo Dioquino Jr. of DOLE-Central Pangasinan said on Tuesday that DOLE has allotted PHP12.59-million funding for beneficiaries in Region 1.
Dioquino said some 779 young people from Ilocos Norte are part of the SPES, while Ilocos Sur registered 598.
He said La Union has the lowest number of beneficiaries with 362, while Pangasinan has the highest with 1,967 students and OSYs.
“Although, this is not yet the final count for the other regions because there are still pending applications for approval. The data gathered are up to March 28 only,” he added.
Dioquino explained that SPES is a partnership between the local government units (LGU) and some private companies, mostly fast food restaurants, in providing employment for students and OSYs during the summer vacation.
“It aims to help the young people, who wanted to study but are unable to do so due to poverty, to earn money for their school expenses for the next school year,” he said.
Dioquino further said students and OSYs will receive daily basic pay of PHP285 when they work in fast food restaurants, and minimum wage rate of government employees for those who are assigned in LGUs.
He said the 60 percent of the wage will come from the LGU or the private company. while the 40 percent will be the counterpart of DOLE.
In Central Pangasinan, six LGUs and three Jollibee fast food restaurants have partnered with DOLE for the SPES.
The LGUs are Calasiao, Malasiqui, Sta. Barbara, San Carlos City, Dagupan and San Jacinto, he added. (PNA)
