‘Over P1.6M disbursed to 200 Kalinga SPES beneficiaries’ — PESO-Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga—Continuing its commitment to provide the youth a better future, the Provincial Government of Kalinga, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), recently disbursed over P1.6 million in wages to 200 SPES beneficiaries in the province. 

SPES, or the Special Program for Employment of Students, has benefited thousands of students in Kalinga since its implementation.  

The program, being implemented by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), is dedicated to the underprivileged youth in the province, providing them with aid through temporary employment. 

Student-beneficiaries earn money they can use to support their education expenses. 

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera this August 11, PESO-Kalinga Manager Designate Ermilinda P. Wandag said there are a total of 200 students in the province who benefited from the program in its recent implementation this year.  

One of the main requirements to avail of the aid is that a student-beneficiary’s parents should have an income of not more than P190,642.60 annually. 

WORK SCHEDULES of student-beneficiaries

Of the 200 beneficiaries, 80 of them worked for 20 days (May–June), while the other 120 worked for 10 days in July.  

There was a total of P934,832 disbursed to the 80 beneficiaries, receiving P11,685.4 each with a daily pay of P584.27. Of the total cash given to them, 60%, or P560,899.2, came from the PLGU, while the 40%, or 373,932.8, was provided by the DOLE.  

On the other hand, the 120 beneficiaries received a total of P701,124.00, or P5,842.7 each. Unlike the first batch, which was jointly funded by the provincial government and the DOLE, the fund used to pay the second batch came 100% from the PLGU. 

In total, a total of P1,635,956 in wages was disbursed.  

During her talk, Wandag reminded the student-beneficiaries to use the money they earned for its intended purpose, saying, “May they use it for their studies. Usaren da nga panggatang ti needed nga supplies da. Kas kuna dagijay speakers tau (during the distribution), diay representative ni Governor and DOLE Provincial Director, they should use it wisely for their school needs, not for other things.”