Some 1,222 college students, composing the first batch of Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) underwent orientation in preparation for their deployment in city government offices and the barangays from June 19 to July 14.

In a message during the opening program held at the City Coliseum in Tetuan Tuesday morning, Mayor John Dalipe welcomed the students to the fold of the City Government, as he urged them to be responsible and to take full advantage of the opportunity accorded to them as SPES beneficiaries.

The orientation Tuesday morning covered 618 out of the 1,222 beneficiaries under CSWDO field offices in the west coast. The 604 beneficiaries under District II or east coast will have their orientation Wednesday, May 31.

The Batch 2 SPES, composed of 1,099 high school students will commence work on July 17 until August 11.

The city government of Zamboanga under the present administration of Mayor Dalipe has allocated close to P20 million for this year’s SPES with a total slots of 2,321. Each of the students, who will qualify for the summer job, will receive a salary of P11,379.00 for a 20-day work at P568.95 a day.

The program is jointly implemented by the city government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at 60% and 40% appropriation shares, respectively.

Present during the orientation were Assistant City Social Welfare Officer Uldarico Fabian and staff, representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-9 and some barangay officials. (Sheila Covarrubias)