Bacolod city: A total of 1,014 beneficiaries of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental received wages amounting to PHP8.176 million for work rendered during the summer break in various local government units (LGUs) and government offices. Under the program, public sector employers hire students and out-of-school youths as temporary employees and pay 60 percent of their salaries, with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) covering the remaining 40 percent.

According to Philippines News Agency, Karen Dinsay, head of the province's Public Employment Service Office (PESO), mentioned that they hired 200 beneficiaries, who were assigned to nine LGUs and two provincial government offices. 'We released PHP1.476 million to the beneficiaries. The governor (Eugenio Jose Lacson) hopes the province will get more slots next year so that more students will be given the opportunity to avail of the program,' she added. During the payout on Aug. 15, each beneficiary received PHP12,300 or PHP615 per day for 20 days of temporary employment, with PHP369 provided by the provincial government and PHP246 from the DOLE.

Meanwhile, the city government, in collaboration with the DOLE, disbursed a total of PHP6.7 million in wages to 814 beneficiaries on Aug. 16. Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed in a statement, 'Each of these students dreams to finish school, help their families, and build a future full of opportunities. We know how much this support means to them.' Each beneficiary received between PHP9,600 and PHP12,300 during the payout facilitated by the city's PESO at the main lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center. The mayor also reiterated the city's commitment to supporting the SPES program and assisting beneficiaries in securing future employment opportunities.