Press Release
August 30, 2008

ANGARA GIVES HOPE TO POOR AND DESERVING STUDENTS THROUGH SPES

To empower financially-disadvantaged but deserving students, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today sought to amend certain provisions of the Republic Act No. 7323 or the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

"While it is worthy to know that SPES has been effectively implemented, there is still a need to widen its coverage so that more and more financially-disadvantaged but deserving students may be encouraged to finish their studies and eventually save their families from the clutches of poverty," said Angara, who also authored the Free High School Act in 1988.

First implemented in 1993, SPES is a program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in coordination with various local government and private agencies to provide gainful employment to financially-disadvantaged students as well as out-of-school youths aged 15 to 25 during summer and Christmas breaks.

Under RA 7323, DOLE will cover 40 percent of the wages of SPES beneficiaries, while the remaining 60 percent will be shouldered by the hiring local government units and private establishments.

According to DOLE, about 106,700 students were able to obtain temporary employment through the SPES summer program in 2000 and 32,282 students in 2004.

Angara said that RA 7323, which was passed in 1992, is an 'earn-and-learn program to develop productive work ethics in the youth.'

Seeing the need to further strengthen the SPES program by broadening its application, Angara drafted Senate Bill 817.

Under this bill, students enrolled in the tertiary, vocational or technological education are allowed to work not only during summer and/or Christmas break, but at any time of the year. It is also mandated that small- and medium-scale enterprises or entities with more than 10 employees should adopt the program.

Meanwhile, persons or entities that make fraudulent claims as well as those who refuse to honor education voucher will be penalized under this Act.

"It is hoped that by introducing these innovations, the State will continue to inculcate in the youth discipline and forbearance," Angara said.

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