WORKING STUDENTS. Calamba City Mayor Ross Rizal on Monday (June 10, 2024) told students participating in the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) that they should take advantage of the opportunity to learn about government service while earning tuition money. The city government will be covering the entire salaries of 1,270 out of 1,500 SPES beneficiaries. (PNA photo by Zen Trinidad)
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The city government here will pay for the entire salaries of 1,270 out of 1,500 beneficiaries of the government’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).
Mayor Roseller Rizal said during the SPES orientation at the Jose Rizal Coliseum on Monday morning that city hall will cover 60 percent of the salaries of the remaining 230 beneficiaries, with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shouldering the 40 percent balance, which is the program's regular sharing scheme.
SPES is a DOLE initiative to provide short-term employment to students from financially struggling families during their vacation.
Rizal said each SPES beneficiary will receive a daily pay of PHP590.91, or equivalent to Salary Grade I of government employees.
In total, the working students will be receiving PHP11,818.20 for 20 days of service to various government offices in the city.
Rizal also announced his office has earmarked funds for a supplemental allowance of PHP1,000 for each SPES program beneficiary, covering 20 days of service.
Addressing the beneficiaries directly, the mayor highlighted the program's dual purpose: offering exposure to government service and providing income during vacation to support their educational endeavors in the upcoming school year.
“You will be exposed to government service as you work under the SPES and will provide you an income while on vacation to be used for the next school year,” Rizal told the SPES beneficiaries. (PNA)
