The Taguig City government has announced it is now accommodating more beneficiaries in the Special Program for the Employment of Students and Out-of-School Youth (SPES).
From 2,000 beneficiaries last year, the program now accommodates 3,000.
Last week, 600 SPES beneficiaries received their salaries during the distribution held at Taguig City University Auditorium.
The program aims to build the youth’s character and prepare them for employment by providing them with a glimpse into their future. Sixty percent of the earnings come from the local government, while the remaining 40 percent comes from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through remittance centers.
The earnings can be used to support their educational needs and supplement their allowance.
Mayor Laarni Cayetano emphasized the importance of the program in building the character of the youth and preparing them for employment. “This program is a good training ground for all of you and your academic development is important to us. We realized that even though you are still students, it is important that you have a glimpse of what your future will be. When you work in an office, being knowledgeable is an advantage, but character is equally as important as intelligence,” she said.
Cayetano also reminded the beneficiaries to be responsible in their use of social media and to be good role models in the community.
The SPES, which is an initiative project of the Department of Labor, is a program implemented to help enrich the lives of poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths by providing them with jobs. Joel E. Zurbano