TABUK, Kalinga – Some 89 students will be given the chance to earn for their studies through the sponsorship of the provincial government in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment.

Human Resource and Management (HRM) officer and designate Public Employment Service Officer (PESO Domingo Bakilan, an engineer, announced during the recent Kapihan sa Kapitolyo that the provincial government will be deploying the 89 students who are currently hired under the Special Program for Employment of Student (SPES) for the summer break.

He said that the provincial government is allowing the deployment of said students in the national agency offices.

To avail of their services, concerned agencies he said, could send their requests at the HRM office, he said.

The students will be paid on a daily basis through a counterpart scheme between DOLE and the provincial government.

SPES is mandated under Republic Act No. 7323 known as “An Act to Help Poor But Deserving Students Pursue Their Education By Encouraging Their Employment During Summer and/or Christmas Vacations, Through Incentives Granted to Employers, Allowing Them to Pay Only Sixty Percentum of Their Salaries or Wages and the Forty Percentum Through Education Vouchers to be paid by the Government, Prohibiting and Penalizing the Filing of Fraudulent or Fictitious Claims, and For Other Purposes”, and amended by Republic Act No. 9547 entitled “an Act Strengthening and Expanding the Coverage of SPES, Amending for the Purpose Provisions Of R.A. No. 7323.”

Said program is designed to develop the intellectual capabilities of children of poor families pursue their education through employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations giving them the chance to earn to finance their educational needs.

This is open to all qualified high school, college or vocational students or drop-outs and interested employers. *(PIA CAR/KAlinga)