DOLE pays P327,200 to 100 Pangasinense students

Workers protest infront of the Department of
Labor & Employment

Lingayen- - -Some 100 students who benefitted from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) program, dubbed “Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES),” received their check worth P3,272 each today, July 23 at the Capitol here as they also visited Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for a courtesy call. The SPES program is a cost-sharing scheme of DOLE and the provincial government wherein the labor department shouldered 40 percent of the wages of students (P3,272) and a bigger sum of 60 percent or an amount of P4,909 was bore by the provincial government which was released last June to the 100 student workers who each received a total of P8,181 covering their 20 days labor. Gov. Espino commended the students for converting their summer time into a productive working vacation. The Governor said that what they have accomplished is something they can be proud of. “I wish all of you the best of luck. Sana in the near future pagka-graduate niyo ay makahanap kayo ng magandang trabaho. Who knows, baka ang iba sa inyo ay maging empleyado din sa Kapitolyo,” the provincial chief executive said. Diana delos Santos, a graduating Business Administration student at the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF) in San Carlos City who spoke in behalf of the group, thanked the provincial government and DOLE for the laudable program. “Malaking tulong po sa aming pag-aaral ito at aside from this marami po kaming natutunan sa aming experience as public servants maski sa maikling panahon lamang po,” the young lady said as she revealed that she has been a recipient of the SPES program for three summers now. DOLE Regional Director Grace Ursua, who joined the Governor in the distribution of checks, said that for the entire region a total of 4,500 students are being hired for the program every summer. Ursua disclosed that applicants are advised to apply at the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) in their area to avail of the program. The regional director said that requirements for the hiring of students include income bracket of parents, good scholastic standing, and age which is 15 to 21 years. SPES program is usually held in April to May allowing students avail of the opportunity to work at least 20 to 30 days during summer. PESO Pangasinan Chief Alex Ferrer said that most students come from the lowest income bracket. “Maraming gustong mag-avail pero ini-screen po sila ng DOLE para ma-determine po talaga ang kanilang family income,” Ferrer said. The students were deployed at the various government hospitals, offices located at the Capitol compound and beach area for clerical and greening jobs. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

 Incompetence at the DOLE

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza 

 Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz of the Department of Labor should be hitting with tongs and hammer the DOLE’s Region-1 and Pangasinan-Dagupan City offices because of inability of its personnel to give the P3000 counterpart in the wages of students who worked at the city hall for a month. The DOLE is supposed to give P3,000 of the P7000 wages in the department’s Special Program for the Employment of Students last summer. Even Administrator Vlad Mata and City Information Officer Ana Velasco could not believe that until now the counterpart fund DOLE pledged to the city has not been given to some of the sorry summer job workers. Mata even told me that some of these students or their parents have complained to him in the past about this red tape.
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In September this year I wrote the following in this column: “ Last summer, students from the marginalized sectors all over the country have been selected by local government unit (LGU) to work in your department’s SPES where the LGU shouldered 60 percent of their salary while DOLE shoulder 40 percent of the more than P7000 salary in a one month work. Susmariosep, the LGU of Dagupan City has long been given the 60 percent counterpart in May this year to the workers while many of these students and out-of-school youth still wait for the counterpart from your local offices here in Northern Luzon. What is happening with your department Secretary Baldoz? Sylvia Catapia, your point woman for this endeavor in Pangasinan, has been telling parents who follow up the balance fees of their children that their papers are still being scrutinized in the DOLE’s regional office. But Holy Casseroles and Guacamole Secretary Baldoz, it is already September of 2012 but still no courtesy of text or call from Catapia from the “scrutiny crap” just to ease up the parents’ anxiety who have been given a run-around in that office despite being there for the umpteenth time. Catapia and your staff in La Union should have the common sense to call up and update the recipients or their parents on what your office should be paying. I could not believe that the DOLE personnel could not even send a letter why the compensation of these workers had not been given. Imagine, eight months since that summer job in year 2012 the actuation of DOLE on this counterpart pay’s brouhaha has scandalized a lot of people. Secretary Baldoz,a few days from now and its already year 2013. Baka umabot pa iyan ng Summer 2013?
 (Send to totomortz@yahoo.com)