By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The beneficiaries of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES)
have recently gathered at Claret College of Isabela in Basilan for the SPES
Challenge Year 2, an opportunity for working students to enhance mental and
physical abilities.
Some 150 SPES beneficiaries convened
for friendly games that would put to the test young people’s abilities and
capabilities as they face various challenges and activities.
The activity was initiated by the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)- Field Office in Isabela City in
collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Basilan to
provide students with basic knowledge and understanding on labors’ rights.
Engr. Wesley D. Tan, OIC
DOLE-Isabela Field Office said “the SPES program is aimed at assisting the poor
but deserving students to pursue higher education by providing them with
opportunities to earn.” But more than the money earned from SPES, he said,
DOLE’s role is also to equip students with the discipline, attitude, and
exposure to the world of labor and work.
Tan said this year’s gathering is
dubbed as SPES Challenge Year 2, a friendship amazing race for student
beneficiaries that would provide avenues to showcase talents, creativity, and
leadership to prepare them for the world of work. It adopted the theme “Manggagawang
Pilipino, handa sa Hamon ng Makabagong Panahon (Filipino workers, ready for
the challenges of the modern times).”
These challenges sought to deepen
knowledge and provide opportunities for reflection among young laborers/workers
on the realities of labor and work.
DOLE also hoped that the activities
had enabled the students to discover appropriate attitudes and behavior in
organizing, planning, and mobilization of workforce and personnel to promote
productivity, efficiency, and humanity.
Public Employment Service Officer
(PESO) managers of respective participating employer-institutions agreed that
the whole day activity last June 5 had taught young workers to work with
different group dynamics and personalities as they tried to build their team
towards accomplishing the tasks given as quickly and as efficiently as
possible.
Participating employer-institutions
for this year with their corresponding number of SPES beneficiaries are the
Basilan State College-BaSC (100), Claret College of Isabela-CCI (47), Hardam
Furigay Colleges Foundation Inc.-FCI (20), MJM Commercial (10), and UWARBMP
Cooperative (30).
Tan said that the labor department
pays the 40% wage of the SPES beneficiaries, while employers shouldered the 60%
for the 52 days work. A full 52-day work had already been paid by DOLE for
beneficiaries of MJM Commercial and FCI, while 30-day work had been paid also
for those in CCI and BaSC.