Manila: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, Iloilo City Public Employment Services Office (PESO) manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay explained that DOLE will cover 40 percent of the PHP615 daily salary for these beneficiaries, who will work for a total of 20 days. The students have been deployed to various offices within the city hall, where they will assist with clerical work, secretariat duties, and data gathering surveys. Their employment period extends until May 19.

As part of their involvement in the program, the beneficiaries will participate in an exit interview on their last day, where they will receive career guidance and information on other programs available at PESO. Following their exit, a second batch of 80 beneficiaries will begin their 20-day employment stint.

SPES is open to students, including out-of-school youths, aged 15 to 25, who come from low to middle-income families. These beneficiaries have undergone a screening process and interviews to qualify for the program. The city government has allocated PHP1.1 million as its contribution to the initiative.

The beneficiaries will receive their salaries in two tranches. The first tranche will be provided by the city government, while the second tranche will be issued by DOLE, to be claimed at the Palawan Pawnshop using a code provided by the department.