The city government of Davao has facilitated the employment of 602 students under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) this summer through its public employment service office (PESO).
PESO manager Lilibeth D. Pantinople said students whose contract ended last June 2 were given 45 days to work with pay. She said that, except for the Department of Education which paid P309 per day for each student under its employ, other participating agencies and private companies gave a P286 daily wage following the region’s current minimum rate.
“Employers shared only 60% of the students’ wage as the other 40% was subsidized by the Department of Labor (DOLE),” Pantinople said.
She said, SPES is available to 15-25 years old students who have no failing grade in the immediately preceding school year. According to her, the student must belong to the P36,000 annual gross income bracket or lower as reflected in their income tax return (ITR). Those whose parents do not have jobs, she added, a certificate of no income shall be secured from the barangay.
Pantinople stressed that this year 3,510 students registered for SPES, but due to limited slots for employment and qualification requirements imposed, more than one-half of the applications were turned down.
The participating agencies and companies that accepted summer jobs for students were city government of Davao, Davao Light & Power Company, RSG Lonbisco, Inc., Department of Agriculture, Gaisanao Mall of Davao, Department of Education, Sta. Ana Multi-purpose Cooperative, Grand Men Seng Hotel, Felcris Supermarket, Davao Central Warehouse Club, Deco Arts Marketing, Gaisano South Citimall, BF Industries, and Dunkin Donuts. [CIO/Roldan G.Gorgonio]
