Two-hundred students of the province of Camarines Sur took part in the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) orientation of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur through the CamSur Public Employment Services Office (PESO) and in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on August 11, 2022 at the Capitol Convention Center. 

The SPES Program is one of the programs of DOLE that is being implemented by the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur to extend support to deserving students and to provide assistance for their financial needs in school. Beneficiaries under the SPES are given temporary employment by being deployed in the different offices of the Provincial Government as admin support staff for 20 days. Moreover, this also opens new doors of opportunity to immerse, learn, and gain on-hand experiences working in public service.

Beneficiaries of the program started their eight-hour work on August 12, 2022. The offices of the Provincial Budget Office, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Assessor’s Office, Provincial Social Services Office, Provincial Governor’s Office Admin Executive Office, Provincial Engineering Office, Provincial Legal Office, Human Resource and Management Office, Colleges Coordinating Office, Cultural Development Office, Civil Service Commission, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Public Employment Services Office, Villa del Rey/CamSur Sports Complex (CWC), and Civil Security Unit opened their offices for the SPES Program beneficiaries.

Each SPES beneficiary under the program will be receiving a total of P10,940 as their salary. The 60% of the total salary, amounting to P6,564, will come from the Provincial Government, while the remaining 40%, amounting to P4,376, will come from DOLE. In addition, the beneficiaries will receive an additional benefit of GSIS Personal Accident Insurance valid for one year.

Due to the massive increase in the unemployment rate caused by the pandemic, the SPES Program is a huge turning point for Arvin Jay Cado of Del Rosario, Milaor to help his parents in providing for his school needs. As a Civil Engineering student from Naga College Foundation (NCF), he knows that it will be difficult for his parents to provide sustenance for his tuition fees and other needs at school this year. But through the SPES Program, he can lessen their family expenses as he works and earns for his school fees.

According to him, the program is very beneficial to students like him. “Dahil sa programang ini, mas natatabangan an mga estudyante lalo na sa financial asin mas napaparahay an mga tawo dahil sa tabang na ini. Natatabangan kami sa pagklase mi, lalo na si pamilya mi na mas mapadikit an gastusan dahil na din sa SPES,” he shared.

Cado also thanked the Provincial Government, especially the new Governor, Luigi Villafuerte. “Gusto ko pong magpasalamat ta tinawanan po kami nin oportunidad para makapagtrabaho po igdi sa Provincial Government as SPES and dakulang tabang po siya samo lalo na sa pagklase ko asin sa pamilya ko na mapadikit an bayaran sa eskwelahan. Salamat po, Gov. Luigi kasi sa paagi kani, kadakol na estudyante ang natatabangan mo makatapos nin pag-aadal,” he said.

For the 20 year-old Nursing student from Unibersidad de Sta. Isabel, Jannes Gertrude Lei Dy of Del Rosario, Milaor, SPES is a blessing and hope that will help her to continue pursuing her dreams and her studies especially that her family is at point of financial struggle. Currently, she only has her mother supporting her and her sibling. With a self-employed mother whose income isn’t stable, Dy decided to apply for SPES. This will be her second time to be part of the program. She first worked as SPES in the Office of Vice Mayor in Milaor doing paperworks and field works through the documentation of programs being implemented in the barangays.

“As a SPES beneficiary, maganda yung experience kasi madami akong nakakasalamuha. Yung work ethic is very dynamic and super ganda ng bonding. This is really a big help for me because we are struggling financially and yung makukuha ko naman dito will be used to pay my college fees,” she said.

Dy also stressed the personal and professional benefit of her experience being immersed in the government offices. According to her, “I think that this is a good way to encourage students na at least kahit nag-aaral pa lang sila, they are already introduced kung ano yung mga work ways, paano ang frameworks or paano mag-work so I think this would be our stepping stone before we are really introduced sa each profession na pupuntahan namin.”

 Providing a great opportunity to build careers for young professionals soon joining the workforce, Dy also expressed her gratitude to the Provincial Government and DOLE for being part of the SPES. “I would like to thank the provincial government especially the governor and DOLE, for offering this kind of job to students who are struggling financially,” she said.

Under the leadership of Governor Luigi Villafuerte, more students have received the support from the Provincial Government. Opportunities like SPES and educational assistance programs help deserving students in the province succeed in reaching their dreams.