ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 5, 2022 – Some 60 poor but deserving students in Labason, Zamboanga del Norte will benefit from the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9.

Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe said that the Labor Department earmarked a budget of Php 210,000.00 representing DOLE’s counterpart of 40% for beneficiaries’ stipend.

“LGU Labason will shoulder the remaining 60%. The students will be assigned to different government agencies in Labason and will work for 20 days.

The program’s goal is to acquaint these beneficiaries with actual work so that skills may be further developed. Aside from that, this will also help them earn for their school needs,” Atty. Buenafe added.

DOLE 9 Liloy Satellite Office (LSO) in partnership with LGU Labason spearheaded the program orientation on April 26, 2022 at the Municipal Agriculturist Office, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte.

DOLE LSO Staff Joni Sarina Mejico oriented the beneficiaries on the salient features of SPES, Occupational Safety and Health and Labor Market Information.

Marcelino Cadavedo, Information Desk Officer of LGU Labason presented beneficiaries’ area of assignment and minimum safety rules and regulations of the Municipal Hall of Labason.

Albert Sigmund Laput, one of the beneficiaries from Barangay Balas, expressed his gratitude to LGU Labason, PESO and DOLE for the implementation of SPES.

“I was also a SPES beneficiary last year. I was assigned to the Agriculturist Officer where I learned so much about tending to farm animals and plants. I am very thankful to be part of SPES,” Albert said.

PESO Manager Salvador S. Macaambac encouraged the beneficiaries to work hard and be grateful of the opportunity provided to them. He emphasized that this program aims to assist them for their school needs.

SPES is DOLE’s youth employment-bridging program which aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during summer and/or Christmas vacation or any time of the year to augment the family’s income to help ensure that beneficiaries are able to pursue their education. END