BUTUAN CITY – Some 1,192 students and out-of-school youths in Surigao del Norte have received their salaries for the 20-day work rendered to the different local government units (LGUs) in the area, an official said Friday.
In an interview, Anya Sollano, of the Department of Labor and Employment in Caraga Region (DOLE-13) information office, said the salaries of the beneficiaries are under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) of the agency.
She said the SPES beneficiaries received a total of PHP5,189,210.
“The payments were released through the series of distribution activities from July until the first week of September this year,” she said.
Of the total beneficiaries, 298 were from the six municipalities in Siargao Island, particularly from the towns of Del Carmen, San Isidro, San Benito, Pilar, Santa Monica, and Pilar.
The beneficiaries from Siargao received some PHP1.4 million during the distribution activities.
Another 894 SPES beneficiaries received PHP3.8 million in payments from six towns and one city in the mainland Surigao del Norte, including Bacuag, Sison, Mainit, Placer, Tagana-an, Tubod, and Surigao City.
“The series of distribution activities was conducted in coordination with the respective local government units, the Public Employment Services Office, and the DOLE office in Surigao del Norte,” Sollano said.
Among those who received payment this month was Carlo Lamay of Surigao City, who thanked the government for the educational aid.
“I am a beneficiary of the SPES program of DOLE for the last four years now. The program helped me, especially in my studies,” Lamay was quoted in a statement issued by DOLE-13 on Friday.
DOLE Surigao del Norte head May Velonta vowed to continue the implementation of the SPES program in the province to reach out to more students and youths in the province who needs help and support. (PNA)
