As they completed their 20-day summer jobs, a total of 642 student-beneficiaries of the provincial government’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) received their salaries amounting to P2.5 million from officials of the capitol led by Governor Lilia G. Pineda.
The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to Pineda and the provincial board members who personally handed over the 60 percent share of the provincial government to the graduates in ceremonies held at the Benigno Aquino Memorial Hall.
“We thank the provincial government for giving us the opportunity to help our parents pay for our tuition and other school needs,” Rachel Canlas of Macabebe said.
She explained that aside from its financial benefits, the program also provided her with valuable learning experiences as it served as a good training ground in human relations.
Kimberly Magno, another SPES baby who has been employed in the summer livelihood program for some years now, assured the governor that she will forever treasure the experiences and learnings she gained.
A townmate of the governor, Kim also expressed her determination to strive harder in her studies to complete her college education as she is committed to give back and share with the less fortunate the financial blessings she received from the provincial government, the SPES and the scholarship program included.
Each of the student-beneficiaries received P3,714.00, the provincial government’s counterpart, as payment for services rendered in the summer employment program. The remaining 40 percent equivalent to P2,476.00 will be given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as soon as they submit the required official receipts as proofs of their enrolment for the coming school year.
Public Employment Services Officer (PESO) Luningning Vergara said that the beneficiaries were assigned to conduct field surveys in the different municipalities of the province pursuant to the implementation of the Skills Registry System (SRS).
Vergara acknowledged that the graduates are indeed lucky as they qualified and benefited in the summer employment program and assured them that with their good performance record they will definitely be considered for re-hiring in next year’s implementation.
Benny Legamia, Jr., director for research and development service of the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU), briefed the participants on the university’s livelihood opportunities through vocational education for the youth and unemployed.
He stressed that interested applicants could choose from an array of short term courses the university offers which are very much in-demand in local and foreign –based companies. These courses include automotive servicing, consumer electronics, electrical welding, tailoring and dressmaking, to name a few.
`Board Member Tars Halili who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on labor and employment commended the graduates for a job well done and enjoined them to continue honing the skills they acquired in their summer jobs.
Board Members Cris Garbo, Salvador Dimson, Fritzie David-Dizon, Monina Laus, Raul Macalino, Nestor Tolentino and Ric Yabut also graced the said event. (Erlinda T. Yutuc, Pampanga PIO)
