Summer employment program to benefit poor students

TAGUM CITY, May 17 (PIA) – Grantees of the Special Program for Students (SPES) in the province are happy the Provincial Government has finally deployed them to their respective assigned offices.

The province facilitated the employment contract of the first batch of SPES with 140 recipients after the lapse of the election ban, which froze the implementation of the program as Comelec prohibited the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds, including the hiring of employees, from March 29-May 13 this year.

The campaign and election periods fell on the same employment duration of the SPES program.

Lenie Dumapias, an incoming fourth year BSIT student at the Davao del Norte State College in Panabo City said her jobless widowed mother was overjoyed that she eventually got her contract to work for 20 days at the Provincial Capitol.

“My mother was extremely happy that I will be able to earn income to help pay for my enrollment,” said the 20-year old senior student.

Dumapias was among the 140 student-employees assigned in the various offices of the province from May 16-June 13, 2013, with a daily salary of P250. The second batch of 60 grantees will commence subsequently.

The 6th among a sibling of eight, she revealed she is relying on her older brother, who manages a water refilling station, for her schooling.

She said her salary would be most useful, particularly that she is preparing for her on-the-job training this coming semester.

Aside from earning income, Dumapias also looks forward to learning new skills and knowledge that could prove beneficial to her preparation for actual employment aftergraduation.

“I am excited to learn new things to enrich my knowledge and experience,” she said.

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9547, the province implemented the SPES program to specifically help cash-strapped students pursue their education by providing income or augment their income through employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations.

Bent on developing the intellectual capacities of deserving students, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario afforded the employment of some 851 SPES youth grantees in the province during his second term. (Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)