1,709 students benefit from DOLE's SPES program in Quezon

By Ruel Orinday October 24, 2020 (Photo from https://www.dole.gov.ph/) ...

By Ruel Orinday
October 24, 2020

(Photo from https://www.dole.gov.ph/)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - A total 1,709 students from 29 municipalities in the Province of Quezon benefited from the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) this year.

The program is being administered by DOLE-Quezon Provincial Office in partnership with the provincial government and the different local government units (LGU).



Genecille Aguirre of DOLE-Quezon Provincial Office said SPES is DOLE's youth employment-bridging program that aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out of school youths and dependents of displaced or would be displaced workers during summer and/ or Christmas vacation or anytime of the year.

The temporary employment of students is designed to augment the family's income and at the same ensure that student-beneficiaries are able to continue their education.



According to DOLE-Quezon, the DOLE alloted more than P7.1M counterpart fund for the implementation of SPES in Quezon Province. Said amount covers salaries of students enrolled in SPES and payment for the GSIS accident insurance.

The municipalities with SPES program counterpart thru the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the provincial government are Dolores, Sariaya, Lucban, Infanta, Patnanungan, General Luna, Gumaca and Tagkawayan.



Other municipalities with SPES program counterpart are Atimonan, Calauag, Gumaca, Infanta, Lopez, Mauban, Mulanay, Pagbilao, Real, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Polilio, Burdeos, Panukulan, Tayabas City, Unisan, Agdangan, Alabat, Patnanungan ang Sampaloc.

Meanwhile, three municipalities and two private employers have cancelled their participation in SPES this year in accordance with SPES Advisory No. 04-2020. The Advisory states among others, the continouous deferrment of SPES implementation in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). (Ruel Orinday, PIA-Quezon)