The Department of Labor and Employment in Dumaguete City envisions that some 2,000 students in Negros Oriental will avail of its yearly Special Program for the Employment of Students, district head Jose Ogang said yesterday.

The DOLE, however, said only 1,000 are certain to qualify, and that, the national government has allocated only about P1 million for the program in Negros Oriental.

SPES is mandated by Republic Act 7323 to provide students with jobs during summer.

The program is a partnership between the DOLE and the acceptors, which include local government units and private establishments, who may want to give work to the SPES beneficiaries for 20 to 45 days.

The student workers, Ogang said, will receive compensation equivalent to the minimum wage. Of the amount, 60 percent will be shouldered by the acceptors, while the remaining 40 percent will be paid by DOLE.

Ogang added that some 30 LGUs, government and private establishments have pledged to accept SPES workers this summer. He is requesting the national office of the DOLE to add P1 million more for the program in Negros Oriental so the number of beneficiaries can be increased to 2,000.*RA

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