In light of COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) MIMAROPA through its Romblon Field Office paid a total amount of P1,086,219.80 representing salaries of 267 youth beneficiaries employed under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in this province.
With the successful and safe working engagement for 20 days, SPES beneficiaries from 13 local government units (LGU) and an educational institution received salaries from the participating employers and from the DOLE’s counterpart ranging from P6,540.00 to P8,520.80 through money remittance center.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Department of Labor and Employment for implementing SPES. During this time of pandemic, your agency truly helped us. As one of the SPES-beneficiaries, I humbly say that it really helped me boost and develop my personality and aptitude. Aside from learning additional knowledge, I also earned income that sustains my education. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work. I really appreciate the time that I spent working with the other SPES beneficiaries and LGU employees. I guarantee you that I will use the knowledge I gained on my chosen career. Once again thank you very much for this program,” said Mauren Fiel F. Fabula, SPES beneficiary of LGU Banton.
Being the implementing arm in the local government units, Josefa Del Prado, President of PESO Managers Association of Romblon expressed her gratitude to DOLE for giving the students the opportunity to render jobs amid pandemic as she said, “In behalf of the PESO Managers in the Province of Romblon, I would like to thank DOLE for the assistance to the youths. In this time of pandemic, the amount they earned from the program is a big help to them and their families. Also, having them in our offices to assist in organizing documents and cleaning the surroundings is big benefit. The parents are very thankful for the blessings their children received and we are overwhelmed to receive their words of thanks. Again thank you DOLE for a very helpful program.”
Under the leadership of DOLE MIMAROPA OIC Regional Director Albert E. Gutib, youths will always be part of the department’s goal not only in providing decent and productive jobs that could aid to their educational needs and/or expenses but also harnessing their potentials to prepare them to be part of the future workforce.
Meanwhile, DOLE Romblon still has P84,524.00 worth of SPES counterpart for 20 beneficiaries who will be employed in LGU Calatrava during the last quarter of the year.
SPES is DOLE’s youth employment-bridging program which aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, including out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers to augment the family’s income to help ensure that beneficiaries are able to pursue their education.
