More than 4,000 youth and students in the Caraga Region have benefited from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) programs this year, an official said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum here, DOLE-13 Assistant Director Raymond Fel Sajor highlighted the success of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and the Government Internship Program (GIP) in helping Caraga’s underprivileged youth.

“DOLE, with the help of local government units (LGUs) and other agencies, continues to reach out to the less fortunate sectors in Caraga,” Sajor said.

The SPES is a youth employment initiative designed to provide temporary work during summer or Christmas vacations, giving students the opportunity to earn and support their families.

The GIP, on the other hand, offers three- to six-month internships for high school, technical-vocational or college graduates, providing practical work experiences in government offices.

Since January, the SPES had already assisted 3,058 young people, with a total of PHP49.6 million in compensation paid to 1,022 interns.

In addition, DOLE-13 has implemented the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, which provides emergency employment for disadvantaged workers aged 18 and above.

“TUPAD is widely known in our communities, and the support of LGUs has been instrumental in its successful implementation,” Sajor said.

So far, 111,354 beneficiaries have received PHP515 million in wages under the TUPAD program this year.

Another program, the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), provided livelihood grants totaling PHP82.8 million to 2,763 beneficiaries since January, offering them alternative income and employment opportunities. (PNA)