MARCH 17, 2013

NR # 3046

Solon to DOLE: Let students know summer jobs program exempted from hiring ban
A lawmaker today called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to put up an information drive that will heighten the awareness of poor students and out-ofschool youth on the availability of the summer jobs program dubbed Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) since it is not covered by the election-hiring ban. Rep. Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin) said the information drive would ease any misperception that the SPES is deferred this summer due to the hiring ban. It must be stressed that the SPES is exempted from the hiring ban so students and out-of-school youth needing jobs this summer can already prepare their job application requirements, said Romualdo, a member of both the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture and Committee on Higher and Technical Education. He said summer jobs are important to poor students who need to earn and save money for their tuition for the next school year or semester. Let us heighten their awareness that these summer jobs are available for them this year, and not covered by the hiring ban, said Romualdo. Romualdo further said the information campaign will give student and out-ofschool youth applicants ample time to prepare the requirements namely: Duly filled Registration Form 01 (3 copies) with ID pictures attached and attested to by the school principal or registrar; any of the following to attest his/her age -- Birth/baptismal certificate, Form 138 where age is specified or Joint Affidavit of two disinterested parties pertaining to the age of student; Any of the following to attest the students rating-Form 138 (High School Report Card),Certification by School Registrar that the student has a passing school grade during the previous semester/school year, or Certified true copy of the students class card where his/her passing could be determined; and Latest Income Tax Return of the Parents or a certification from the employer/union president that the parent of the applicant is to be displaced or has been displaced. Earlier, Nicon Fameronag, DOLE public information officer, said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) exempted the SPES from the ban on hiring workers during the election period. For this year, P441.5 million has been allocated for the SPES program which is expected to benefit around 180,000 poor but deserving students all over the country.

The program allows qualified high school, college, vocational school students and out of school youth to earn money for their education by encouraging their employment by local government units and private partner companies. The SPES is mandated under Republic Act No. 9547 otherwise known as An Act To Help Poor But Deserving Students Pursue Their Education By Encouraging Their Employment During Summer and/or Christmas Vacations, Through Incentives Granted to Employers, Allowing Them to Pay Only Sixty Per Centum of Their Salaries or Wages and The Forty Per Centum Through Education Vouchers To Be Paid By the Government, Prohibiting and Penalizing The Filing of Fraudulent and Fictitious Claims, and For Other Purposes. Under this law, the Secretary of Labor and Employment is designated Program Director of the SPES. Those covered are 15-25 years old; enrolled during the present school year/term or during the school year/term immediately preceeding the summer vacation; dropout who intend to continue his education; parents combined net income after tax, including his own, if any, does not exceed P36,000 per annum: garnered a passing grade during the school year/term referred above or in case of dropout, the last year/term attended; his/her parents has been displaced or about to be displaced due to business closure or work stoppage provided he/she meets a, b and d above.(30) rbb