Balbalan LGU brings SPES pay to students: 144 youth rewarded for public service

BALBALAN, Kalinga — To ensure that student-beneficiaries receive their wages without missing classes, the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Balbalan brought the compensation of students studying in Tabuk City directly to the Balbalan Dormitory in Bulanao on August 7, 2026.

The initiative is part of the municipality's implementation of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), a government program that provides temporary employment to deserving students, helping them earn money for their education while gaining valuable workplace experience.

For this year's SPES implementation in Balbalan, a total of 144 students were given the opportunity to work for 20 days during their summer vacation in April and May.

The student-beneficiaries performed office-related tasks and gained first-hand experience in public service while earning income to help support their education and daily needs.

According to Mayor Almar Malannag, the Municipal LGU shouldered 60 percent of the program's funding, while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided the remaining 40 percent.

On August 7, the MLGU traveled to the Balbalan Dormitory in Bulanao, Tabuk City, to distribute the wages of beneficiaries studying in the city.

The move was intended to spare the students from traveling back to Balbalan and potentially missing or sacrificing their classes.

The remaining beneficiaries who are currently in Balbalan may claim their wages at the Municipal Treasury Office beginning August 10.

Mayor Malannag personally accompanied the MLGU team during the payout in Bulanao. He said the municipality decided to bring the wages to Tabuk City so students could immediately use the money for their school needs and allowances without having to travel home.

“Inyumay tayon mismo ditoy Tabuk tapnu dagiti u-ubbing tayo nga agusk-uskwela ditoy Tabuk ket haan dan agawid pay idiay Balbalan, ken tapnu adda usaren dan ditoy. Dagiay beneficiaries tayo met idiay Balbalan ket mabalin da umay alaen anytime idiay munisipyo nu August 10,” he said.

As another year of SPES implementation comes to a close, Malannag expressed appreciation to the iBalbalan students for their diligence and dedication during their 20 days of public service.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to continue doing well in their studies and, after completing their education, to serve their fellow Balbalan residents with the same dedication they demonstrated during their SPES experience.

For the Balbalan LGU, the program is more than temporary employment—it is an investment in young people by helping them continue their education while giving them an early opportunity to experience the value of work and public service.