CamSur deploys over 160 SPES beneficiaries

By Kyna De Castro

“Since 1st year ako, isa talaga ito sa pinasasalamatan ko kasi nakapasok ako sa ganitong programa dahil malaking tulong talaga ito sa aking pamilya, nakakatulong sa mga bayarin sa eskwelahan. At least 50% na lang yung babayaran ng aking magulang kasi po sa private school po ako pumapasok. I am proud and grateful that I am a SPES beneficiary of Gov. Migz, Cong. Lray and Luigi Villafuerte,” shared Princess Bino of Anayan, Pili. She is one of the 160 student beneficiaries who attended the orientation for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) which was conducted at Capitol Convention Center on Wednesday, August 25, 2021.

SPES is one of the programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur that gives students an opportunity to experience working as an Administrative Support Staff in the different offices of the Provincial Government for 20 working days. Due to the pandemic, these students shall only be allowed to fulfill desk works or related tasks that will not require them to travel or stay outside for an indefinite period of time in compliance with Department of Labor and Employment SPES Advisory No. 2-2021 on SPES Implementation amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Community Quarantine.

Among the Capitol Offices that are involved in the SPES Program are CamSur Public Employment Services Office (PESO), Provincial Accounting Office, Human Resource Management Office, Assessor’s Office, Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Budget Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and Scholarship Office.

SPES. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur empowered students to experience working as an employee in the different offices of the Capitol. pgomultimedia/mmec09072021

By the end of employment period, each student beneficiary will be receiving a salary of P525.04 per day, in which 60% will come from the Provincial Government and 40% will come from DOLE. Furthermore, they are also entitled to an additional benefit of GSIS Personal Accident Insurance valid for 1 year.

For 21 year-old John Arjay Delatado of Sagrada, Pili who works with the CamSur PESO, “I am really grateful na meron ganitong program kasi it really helps us working students to become more prepared for the future real life working situations. Helpful siya, not just financially, but also to hone our talents and skills. This is my 3rd time of being a SPES. Noong una, mahiyain po talaga ako, pero yung mga co-workers namin saka mga boss namin sa office, tinutulungan naman po kami kung papano makipag-interact, paano yung gawain ng isang tunay na employee and napakagandang experience po yung makapasok sa SPES kasi po na experience po namin first-hand kung ano talaga ang ginagawa ng Provincial Government para makatulong lalo na ngayong may pandemic.”

SPES is a youth employment bridging program of DOLE that provides temporary employment to students and helps them in gaining experience and enhancing their capabilities as future members of the workforce.

Despite the pandemic and struggles being faced by the students to sustain their studies, the Provincial Government continuously provides aid to students in need by offering programs that support their dreams for a better future such as this.