INTERNSHIP. Some 40 fresh graduates in Benguet province have been hired to augment the manpower resources of the PhilHealth North Luzon office in Baguio City and the provincial government of Benguet, each getting 20 personnel. The 40 graduates were hired using funds from the office of Benguet caretaker Congressman Eric Yap coursed through the Department of Labor and Employment. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A total of 40 college graduates have been given temporary jobs under the Government Internship Program (GIP) being implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that will allow them to obtain actual job experience and get the prescribed minimum wage.
Benguet caretaker Congressman Eric Yap on Thursday said the fund from his office coursed through the DOLE will give the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) 20 additional personnel who will perform clerical jobs to fast-track claims aside from the 20 personnel to be assigned at the provincial government.
Yap said the hired graduates will receive PHP350 daily for a minimum of three months starting on October 1.
“The government’s program allows fresh graduate students to obtain an experience right at their places so that they do not have to move to other places or go to Metro Manila to obtain a work experience,” he said.
He mentioned that the program had been there, "I just had to access it for our young professionals in Benguet to be able to avail of it.”
The GIP allows fresh, inexperienced college graduates to be hired in government that will provide them an actual job experience needed if they, later on, decide to work in government or the private sector.
“We need energetic young blood who are passionate especially at this time of pandemic when they can be utilized in government offices while also giving them a job experience and a salary prescribed in the area under the law,” Yap said.
Dr. Dominga Gadgad, PhilHealth vice president for Northern Luzon, said their office has limited staff with numerous jobs and the 20 additional manpower will be of big help to the agency.
“Their function will be clerical to help fast-track the claims of individuals and hospitals so that we can speed up payment,” she said.
She said their office covers the six provinces and Baguio City in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) which receives about 1,500 to 2,000 claims daily.
She said they still have a backlog of over 8,000 claims while requests continue to come in daily.
Governor Melchor Diclas said the GIP is a good avenue for fresh graduates to obtain training while receiving a decent salary, one that is prescribed by the government.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has set PHP340 basic and PHP10 for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) as minimum wage in Baguio City and La Trinidad, the capital town of Benguet.
Diclas said that in applying for a job, companies and workplaces usually look for an experienced workforce, giving the fresh graduate a lean chance of being employed.
“With the GIP, we are not only helping them have an income, but we are also giving them an experience that they can bring along with them and place in their resume for future use,” he said.
Diclas also said the 20 additional manpower for the provincial government will be a big help to augment manpower resources especially with more work to be done as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic continues to be managed. (PNA)
