The first batch of 70 beneficiaries under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) implemented by the Iloilo City government in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) officially started work on Monday.

Iloilo City Public Employment Services Office (PESO) manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay, in an interview, said DOLE will shoulder 40 percent of the PHP615 daily salary of the beneficiaries who will render work for 20 days.

“We deployed them in different offices at the city hall. They will be helping offices in need of manpower, doing clerical work, secretariat, and surveys for data gathering. They start today until May 19,” Umadhay said.

The beneficiaries will undergo an exit interview during the last day of work, where they will have career guidance and briefing on other programs available at the PESO.

Their exit also signaled the start of the 20 days of work for the second batch composed of 80 beneficiaries.

SPES is open to students, including out-of-school youths, 15 to 25 years old. The beneficiaries, who are from poor to middle-income families, underwent screening process and interviews.

The city government has allocated PHP1.1 million as counterpart for the program.

The beneficiaries will receive their salary in two tranches, with the first tranche coming from the city government. They will receive a code from DOLE for the second tranche, which they could claim from the Palawan Pawnshop. (PNA)