WHEN Governor-elect Aris C. Aumentado and Vice-Governor-elect Dionisio Victor A. Balite began taking over the helm of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) noon of June 30, Bohol Employment and Placement Office-Public Employment Service Office (BEPO-PESO) Head Maria Vilma C. Yorong immediately informed the new administration tandem of the resumption of one of their office’s continuing programs this July, the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), which was temporarily put on hold for the past two years due to the pandemic.
A bridging mechanism program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), it enables student-beneficiaries to gain skills and workplace experience.
It also aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during summer vacation to augment the family’s income to help ensure that beneficiaries are able to pursue their education.
Earlier this year, the DOLE has decided to resume its SPES Program this July 2022 to ensure that beneficiaries are able to pursue their education despite the continuing global pandemic, a move not only beneficial but also timely for Boholanos because of the Sandugo Festival.
Qualifications for the program are that students or out-of-school youth (OSY) should be at least 15 but not more than 30 years of age; combined net income after tax of parents, including his/her own, if any, does not exceed the regional poverty threshold; students must have obtained an average passing grade during the last year/school year attended; and the OSY must be certified by the local Social Welfare and Development Office (SWDO) as such.
Requirements are duly accomplished SPES application form, copy of birth certificate or any official document showing the student’s/OSY’s date of birth, copy of the parents’ latest income tax return (ITR) or Certificate of Tax Exemption (CTE) issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), or Certificate of Low Income or Certificate of Indigence issued by the barangay or SWDO.
Sadly, for the past two years, SPES implementation was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. This July’s re-opening of the program is the first face-to-face encounter among facilitators and beneficiaries.
Qualified student beneficiaries have submitted their average passing grade indicated in their Form 138/report card/class card, and similar documents, and a certification by the school registrar as to passing grade; while out-of-school youths (OSY) had secured certification from their respective barangays/cities/municipalities/provinces or SWDO where they are residing.
Both the Provincial Government and the DOLE have agreed to take in at least 1,000 beneficiaries this July 2022.
The first batch has already reached 667 student beneficiaries who have already been deployed to different local government units (LGUs) and offices in the Capitol the first week of July.
Currently, BEPO-PESO is assessing the requirements and qualifications of those who would be lucky enough to be included in the second batch for which the DOLE has not yet picked a date for its implementation.
As mandated in the program, beneficiaries should report to their respective office assignments for 20 working days where thereafter, their salaries would then be processed and subsequently released; that is, 60% by the PGBh through the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO), and 40% by DOLE through a pre-selected, certified and qualified remittance service provider. (BEPO-PESO)
