• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A total of 814 summer jobbers in Bacolod City received their long-awaited compensation last Saturday, under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).
The compensation, totaling P6.7 million, was recently authorized by a signed memorandum.
The beneficiaries were a mix of working students and those from financially challenged families, ranging from 15 to 30 years old.
“Each of these students dreams to finish school, help their families, and build a future full of opportunities,” Mayor Greg Gasataya said.
The SPES program is a partnership between the Bacolod local government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), designed to help deserving students earn money for their school expenses.
According to the city government, the 20-day service earned them between P9,600 and P12,300.
The local government covered 60 percent of the funding, while the DOLE shouldered the remaining 40 percent.
Present during the payout were the Public Employment Service Office head Mae Llamas and coordinator Jovelyn Canoy.*
