Manila, Philippines — The new leadership of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), under Secretary Francis Tolentino, has prioritized making the youth future-ready.
This includes the expansion of the Youth Employability Program, particularly the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).
According to Labor Secretary Tolentino, from January to May, a total of 31,646 SPES beneficiaries have been recorded.
These include “poor but deserving students,” ”out-of-school youth”, and ”dependents” of displaced workers.
The agency emphasized that aside from providing temporary income that beneficiaries can use for school supplies, tuition fees, and other essential expenses, the program also gives young people the opportunity to develop practical skills, gain workforce participation, and acquire work experience for the future.
This is also in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to reduce poverty, unemployment, and job-skills mismatch among the youth.
The short-term employment opportunities under DOLE for SPES beneficiaries typically cover sectors such as education, accommodation, food service, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and agriculture.
For the current year, more than ₱848.2 million has been allocated by DOLE to support the SPES program.