The Iloilo City Government, through its Public Employment Services Office (PESO), is now accepting applications for the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), offering temporary employment to students and out-of-school youth.
“SPES is a 20-day employment program for students ages 15 to 25 years old. The goal is to help them with their financial needs, as well as to bridge them for future employment not only in the city (government) but as well as for private corporations within the city,” PESO manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay said in an interview on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
The program will run in three batches – March, April, and May – targeting financially challenged but academically promising students.
Under the program, the beneficiary receives a salary of more than PHP11,000, with 60 percent to be paid by the Department of Labor and Employment and 40 percent by the city government.
However, the city government has already institutionalized the SPES so that those who will not be accommodated in the DOLE-sponsored program will be catered to by the local government.
The application process includes pre-screening, interviews, and orientation, followed by a career debriefing to connect participants with part-time job opportunities.
Additionally, PESO offers a 10-day short-term employment program with wages aligned to the minimum wage.
Interested applicants must submit their résumés to PESO on the 5th floor of City Hall for evaluation and scheduling.
Umadhay noted that these programs aim to reduce school dropouts and assist students in bridging their transition to higher education or employment.Perla Lena/PNA
