Pampanga, Bataan have biggest number of SPES slots in CL

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan – Of the 18,000 Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) slots, given to poor but deserving students in Central Luzon this summer vacation, Pampanga and Bataan got the highest number.

Reports gathered show that Pampanga got the highest number of SPES slots at 4,400 followed by Bataan- 4,142; Bulacan-3,100; Nueva Ecija- 2,511; Zambales- 2,030; Tarlac- 974; and Aurora- 882. A total of 445 employers, composed of 311 private firms, 120 LGUs and 14 schools are participating

“SPES is a law-mandated program that seeks to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by giving them jobs during summer and/or Christmas vacations,” Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Ana Dione said.

Among the jobs given to SPES beneficiaries include tax mappers, barangay survey personnel, encoders, school assistants, food service crew, gasoline attendants, and promotion merchandisers.

“All SPES beneficiaries underwent the usual screening process and completion of requirements with the different Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) in the region,” Dione added. The salaries of the students are in accordance to the prescribed minimum wage wherein DOLE shoulders the 40 percent while the remaining 60 percent comes from the participating companies and local government units (LGUs).