For Gretchen Nacario Iwayan, the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) was not merely an employment bridging program. It is also a

big, uplifting arm that brought her closer to her dreams of achieving a college diploma.

Gretchen, from Negros Occidental, was just five years old when her parents separated. The effects of her parents’ parting of ways left a lasting scar on the young Gretchen.

She gradually accepted the fact that her parents were not meant for each other. Her being from a broken family did not dampen her spirit. Instead, it even served as a driving force to excel in her studies. In 2008, hard work paid off when she graduated from high school with honors. Subsequently, she passed the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).

Armed with a strong resolve to pursue college education despite her father’s meager income, she went to the Bacolod City PESO office one day to apply for a slot in the SPES, the DOLE’s school-to-work bridging program that helps poor, but deserving young people earn income while studying.

In the summer of 2008, the Bacolod City PESO hired Gretchen Iwayan as a SPES beneficiary. Her daily tasks involved filing of documents and encoding of applicants’ records in the PhilJobNet (PJN).

Soon she transferred to the City Hall, where she juggled work and studies every summer until 2011. As SPES ‘baby’, she was assigned at the City COMELEC to assist in the releasing of voters’ ID, registration of voters, and encoding and updating of voters registration records. She was also assigned at the DOLE Negros Occidental Field Office to assist in the encoding of applicants’ records in the PJN.

Changing lives of more youth in the regionsDOLE’s SPES helps indigent student finish college

“As a SPES beneficiary, I was exposed to different offices in the local government where I gained a lot of insights on various government programs and services. My stint in these offices taught me how to interact and establish rapport with my co-workers and to value team work. I learned to be responsible for my actions and my decisions. I learned to respect people in authority,” Gretchen volunteered.

“The income I earned through the SPES program was really a big help to my studies. It took care of a considerable portion of my tuition fees and allowances. Though the amount is not that big, it really matters when one has something little to spend. The experiences and work values that I learned are more valuable though than the money I earned,” she added.

The income she earned from SPES helped her to finish her degree in Psychology at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 2012. She graduated Cum Laude.

“No pain, no gain. If you want to succeed, you have to work hard,” Gretchen said.

At present, Gretchen is employed as Human Resource Assistant at Sanford Marketing Corporation. She remains grateful to her SPES work experience which brought her closer to her dreams.

“This government program is very laudable. I am happy that I became a part of SPES. I hope it will help more indigent students or those who wish to continue their studies,” Gretchen said.

Gretchen is one of the thousands of poor, but deserving students across the country who have benefitted from the SPES.

Gretchen, a former SPES

baby, has grown up

to be a hard worker.

Turn to page 7

DOLE Good News

The DOLE Good News is published by the Department of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and/or their sources and do not necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine Government’s.

Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 527-3000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com or laborcommunications@gmail.com.

EditorNICON F. FAMERONAG

Director, LCO

Associate EditorKAREN R. SERRANO

Staff WritersMARK JAIME L. CERDENIA

MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORACELESTE T. MARING

HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAYREVELITA F. LAXINA

Editorial AssistantsGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCEMADELYN D. DOMETITA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

PATRICK T. RILLORTA - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7

FLORENCE D. PANAO - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

JOCELYN C. FLORDELIS - Region 11

CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA - Region 12

IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga

� July 2013

The Department of Labor and Employment’s continuing assistance to help undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Saudi Arabia to rectify their status

by finding them employment has gained headway with the conduct of a second job fair that secured the participation of 16 Saudi Arabian companies.

Labor Attache Alejandro Padaen of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jeddah reported more than 300 undocumented OFWs attended the second job fair of the POLO at the end of July.

The job fair, conceived by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jeddah, is part of the efforts of the DOLE to help undocumented overseas Filipino workers improve their employment and correct their residency status in the said Middle Eastern country.

“We know for a fact that most of these undocumented OFWs are not yet ready to come home because they need to earn in order to support their families here in the Philippines,” said Department of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz when the first job fair was held on 19 July.

For illegally-staying OFWs, finding a job with an employer who can sponsor them is one way to correct their stay in the Kingdom.

In his report, Atty. Padaen said the second job fair, held at the grounds of the Philippine Consulate General, was a success.

“Close to 400 OFWs looking for jobs joined the job fair,” he said.

“From nine participating companies during the first job fair held just ten days before the second one, 16 companies have signified their interest in employing Filipino workers,” he added.

The companies are as follows: (1) Arabian Ceramics; (2) Arabian Entertainment; (3) Farha International Company Limited (Bubble Nation); (4) Hills Metals; (5) IMA International Maritime; (6) Inihaw Restaurant; (7) Jeddah Hilton; (8) Middle East Paper Company; (9) Mug and Bean Coffee Shop; (10) National Container Terminal; (11) Pinehill Arabia Food Limited (Indomie); (12) Ramada Hotel; (13) Shawly Restaurant; (14) South Promise; (15) T. Nagadi; and (16) West One.

“Because of the success of the two job fairs, we are planning to hold another after Ramadan and we will invite more companies who need more semi-skilled workers since most of the job fair applicants fall under this category,” Padaen further reported.

He further said that as of 7 August, 116 Filipinos were still camping out in the vacant lot beside the Philippine Consulate General building. The “campers” consist of 58 males, 50 females, and 8 children.

Another 67 undocumented Filipino women and their 16 children are currently staying at the fourth and ground floors of the PCG building.

The PCG, according to Labatt Padaen, is attending to the needs of these undocumented OFWs.

“During his visit, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario instructed the PCG to immediately rent a building to relocate these people,” Padaen added in his report.

In a related development, Padaen reported to Secretary Baldoz that POLO-Jeddah has already endorsed an additional 170 travel documents to the Jawazat, or Passport Department, for exit visa issuance.

“We are continuously assisting undocumented OFWs who wish to come to the country for fingerprinting and visa processing,” he said.

VERSEAS CORNER

19 Saudi Arabian employers, 300 undocumented OFWs join 2nd POLO job fair in Jeddah

DOLE Good News

�July 2013

ISABELA CITY, Basilan--Consistent with the government’s thrust to attain inclusive growth

through productive employment, the Department of Labor and Employment-Isabela City Field Office (DOLE-ICFO) recently conducted a consultation with rural workers association in Basilan and an orientation on how to register a rural workers association, DOLE Regional Office No. 9 Director Sisinio Cano reported to Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

“The DOLE partnered with the Isabela City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in the conduct of the consultation and orientation, aimed at providing knowledge to RWAs on how to acquire legal personality,” reported Director Cano.

The orientation was unique, for it involved hands-on training on filling-up the relevant forms and preparation of attachments required for an RWA to be registered.

In Basilan, DOLE teaches informal sector workers how to organize and avail of livelihood opportunities

A part of the orientation was a discussion of the DOLE’s Anti-Illegal Recruitment-Trafficking In Person (AIR-TIP) efforts, particularly the Sampung Kautusan Kontra sa Illegal Recruitment, which sought to familiarize the participants on the campaign against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

Cely Cabang of the DOLE-ISFO facilitated the discussion. Eighty-three (83) participants, mostly officers of 19 RWAs, attended the multi- organization convergence meeting of different marginalized groups composed of women, the youth, fisher folks, and farmers who are potential recipients of livelihood assistance under the Self Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The consultation-cum-orientation followed the earlier conduct by the DOLE-ICFO of a series of orientation and briefing on the DOLE integrated Livelihood Program towards

Community Enterprise Development for three women associations from Barangays Sta. Barbara, Sumagdang, and Lanote in Isabela City, held on 6, 12, and 22 July.

A total of 210 informal sectors worker-members of the women associations attended the orientation, also participated by barangay officials who engaged the women in a dialogue for possible livelihood intervention and services for the residents of the three barangays.

Director Cano reported that the DOLE-ICFO has been very active in implementing DOLE programs and in the delievery of services to the people of Basilan.

“Just recently, the DOLE-ICFO had facilitated the turn-over of business starter kits worth P950,000 to 110 informal sector beneficiaries in the province. Aside from distributing tools, jigs, and equipment, the provincial field office also facilitated the enrollment of the beneficiaries to the Social Security System,” reported Cano.

ORIENTATION FOR INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS. Cely Cabang of the DOLE-Isabela City Field Office, discusses with officials and members of various Rural Workers Associations the step-by-step process of registering an RWA during the conduct by the DOLE of an orientation seminar for RWAs in the city, held recently at the JB Dans Gymnasium in Brgy. Sunrise, Isabela City.

DOLE Good News

� July 2013

Realizing the need to march in step with other agencies as the government harnesses its resources

and musters its forces to alleviate poverty, create jobs, guarantee food security, and provide a healthy and safe environment for all Filipinos, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz joined eight other cabinet secretaries in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Community-Based Sustainable Livelihood and Development Entreprises in the Countryside during the Forum on Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“Convergence is the correct approach in making sure that the government agencies’ collective purpose of elevating Filipinos’ quality of life is realized and achieved,” Baldoz said after the MOU signing.

Aside from Secretary Baldoz, the signatories on the MOU were Secretaries Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture (DA); Virgilio Delos Reyes of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who was represented by Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio; Enrique Ona of the Department of Health (DOH) who was represented by Director Lilibeth David; Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) who was represented by Assistant Secretary Rolando Acosta; Mario Montejo of the DOST; Corazon Juliano Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Ramon Jimenez of the Department of Tourism (DOT);

DOLE takes active part in government’s converged effort for livelihood and enterprise development

“Convergence is the correct approach in making sure

that the government agencies’ collective purpose of elevating

Filipinos’ quality of life is realized and achieved.”

– Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz

and Gregory Domingo of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Under the MOU, the DOLE will support the convergence arrangement through the provision of working capital in the form of raw materials, equipment, tools, jigs, and other input that will support the establishment and/or enhancement of individual, group, or community-based sustainable livelihood and enterprises.

resource responsive to and in accordance with Philippine development goals and priorities through the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration,” said Baldoz.

The DOLE shall also promote the setting-up of a self-help mechanism for social security and enhance the capability of community groups towards improved production and productivity through training by its attached agencies and partners on Basic ISTIV, ISTIV-PLUS, Service Quality, 5S, Productivity, and Work Safety and Health. It will also provide opportunities for showcasing successful projects and displaying products during livelihood fairs.

Through TESDA Regional and Provincial/District Offices and Technology Institutions, specifically the TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program (TSTP) and its Community-Based Training for Enterprise Development Program (CBTED), the DOLE will serve as catalyst in the creation of community-based sustainable livelihood and enterprises for trainees who are primarily the poor and the marginalized.

“It will profile careers, grant scholarships for skills training, and provide competency assessment and certification,” said Baldoz, adding:

“We will also continue to coordinate and monitor jobs created by government programs and project, in our capacity as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP). As such, the DOLE will also provide technical assistance to CBEP implementing agencies, specifically in the online reporting and monitoring of jobs generated,” Baldoz said.

GOVERNMENT CONVERGENCE TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES. (L-R) Secretaries Gregory Domingo (DTI), Corazon Soliman (DSWD), Mario Montejo (DOST), Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (DOLE), Development and Planning Director Lilibeth David (DOH), Assistant Secretary Rolando Acosta (DILG), Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio (DENR), and Secretaries Virgilio delos Reyes (DAR) and Proceso Alcala (DA) arms-in-arms to show the government’s solid commitment in empowering the country’s local communities after the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Community-Based Sustainable Livelihood and Development Enterprises in the Countryside. The signing was held at the SMX convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

It shall also provide technical assistance and business advisory services in the establishment of common service facilities; and access to more productive resources, low-cost input, wider market and modern technologies through partnerships and alliances with other government and private institutions that can provide relevant services in the implementation of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program to identified communities.

“Our role in the convergence is focused in the promotion and implementation of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) toward Community Entreprise Development (CED). Our task is to provide relevant, accessible, high quality and efficient technical education and skills development, in support of the development of high quality Filipino middle-level human

DOLE Good News

�July 2013

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said that the number of jobs generated by various government agencies enrolled with the Community-Based

Employment Program CBEP) has reached 492,691, or 22 percent of the 2,283,863 jobs targeted to be generated for the whole year.

“On the eve of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), I am happy to report that the CBEP is one of the national government’s job generation programs that is benefiting Filipinos in the lower strata of society in the countryside,” Baldoz said.

For the reference period, the following agencies have reported the number of jobs that were generated in the implementation of their various programs under the CBEP: Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 1,244 jobs; Department of Labor and Employment, 28,385; Department of Agrarian Reform, 6,838; Department of Foreign Affairs and People’s Credit and Finance Corporation, 6; Department of Tourism, 347; Department of Social Welfare and Development, 94,103; Department of Trade and Industry, 1,466; Department of Transportation and Communication, 231; Clark Development Corporation, 402; Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 88; and National Housing Authority, 366,689.

A total of 45 national government agencies have enrolled their projects with the CBEP and Secretary Baldoz said she expects all of the agencies to make good with their commitments and help deliver the number of jobs under the CBEP at the second half of this year.

To further strengthen the CBEP, the DOLE as chairperson of the CBEP Steering Committee and the lead agency monitoring CBEP performance, has conducted “house-to-house” training on the CBEP Online Monitoring and Reporting System. It publishes the Jobs Scorecard Bulletin featuring best practices and success stories of workers that have benefited from the CBEP.

Started in 2011, the CBEP is among the priority convergence programs of the Aquino III administration that aim to contribute to the national goal of inclusive growth, poverty reduction and job creation, particularly in the countryside, or the local community.

In 2012, the CBEP achieved a record 2,324,311 jobs generated under the various projects enrolled by the participating agencies with over P94.717 billion budget. This is 78.79 percent of the total number of jobs targeted during the year. Of the number, 922,713 were infrastructure-related jobs, while 1,401,598 were non-infrastructure jobs.

Baldoz said the CBEP is in pursuit of President Aquino III’s instruction to the DOLE in his 22-Point Platform and Pronouncement on Labor and Employment to “work with relevant government agencies in enhancing social protection programs such as social security, workmen’s compensation, health insurance and housing for laid off workers while strengthening the Emergency Community Employment Program (ECEP) to create jobs immediately so people can still have income to spend for their basic needs.”

The CBEP provides employment to skilled, semi-skilled, and low-skilled workers in the community where a program is implemented through a government agency, whether infrastructure or non-infrastructure. The program has been implemented for more than two decades now, though it is called in different names, i.e., Emergency Community Employment Program, Community Employment and Development Program, Kabuhayan 2000, Rural Works Program, and Emergency Employment Program.

As of July 2013, CBEP has generated 492,961 jobs

� July 2013

DOLE Good News

The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) will soon open additional Regional

Extension units (REUs) in various regions in the country to extend its programs and services nationwide.

ECC Executive Director Stella Banawis said the ECC’s move is pursuant to the DOLE strategy of expanding the reach of social protection to far-flung areas and to make social protection programs and services available to workers who reside in the countryside.

“The new ECC Regional Extension Units will be opened in San Fernando City, La Union; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley; San Fernando City, Pampanga; Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; Legazpi City, Albay; Iloilo City, Iloilo; Tacloban City, Leyte; Davao City, Davao; and Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

At present, the ECC has existing regional extension units in the cities of

DOLE’s ECC sets up more regional extension units

Baguio, Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Koronadal.

Banawis reported that the ECC is now accepting applicants for the positions of information officers and administrative officers who will man the new REUs.

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan--- The DOLE Regional Office No. 2, together with the Employees’

Compensation Commission (ECC), had successfully conducted a forum

ECC ADVOCACY FORUM IN CAGAYAN. The Employees’ Compensation Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 2 conducted a forum on employees’ compensation, and other priority programs and services for workers at Hotel Roma, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The activity was joined by some 180 participants composed of human resource officers, union representatives and employers from various government agencies, and private establishments all over Region 2.

“We have commenced selection of the new personnel for these REUs,” Banawis said. The two, new personnel in each extension office will work closely with the DOLE regional offices where the ECC will also establish the REUs.

Their main tasks are to strengthen EC Program information dissemination through lectures and seminars; attend to regional EC concerns; provide assistance to EC claimants; introduce and facilitate the KaGaBay program which provides rehabilitation services and liv elihood and skills training for occupationally-disabled workers; and serve as ECC Quick Response Teams to

sites where work-related contingencies occur. Baldoz commended the ECC for intensifying its efforts to make social protection programs and services accessible to more Filipinos in the countryside.

DOLE and ECC hold advocacy forum in Region 2on employees’ compensation and other priority programs and services for workers.

About 180 participants, composed of human resource officers, union

representatives, and employers from various government agencies and private establishments all over the region participated in the forum.

ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis, said the activity is pursuant to the directive of Secretary Baldoz to strengthen linkages between DOLE attached agencies and regional offices for the efficient and effective implementation of DOLE programs, projects, and services.

“The forum was an opportunity for the ECC to disseminate important information to the public and make them aware of the DOLE’s social protection and safe work programs for them,” Director Banawis said.

Domingo Lavadia of the regional office of the Department of Health expressed gratitude to the DOLE and the ECC for the forum.

“For 38 years of existence of the ECC, this is the first time that we have been informed of the government’s employees’ compensation program,” Lavadia said.

ECC Executive Director Stella Banawis (right) talks to an amputee who was provided with an artificial arm as part of ECC’s assistance to claimants.

DOLE Good News

�July 2013

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz lauded the 495-member

Association of Clark Mimosa Employees (ACME) for its perseverance that led small rice trading venture into a full-time enterprise.

“The efforts of the members of the Association of Clark Mimosa Employees (ACME) to increase their income by engaging in business is laudable. I encourage other workers similarly situated to emulate the members of ACME,” said Baldoz after Regional Director Raymundo Agravante of the DOLE Regional Office No. 3 reported that the ACME, whose members work at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club, have received DOLE assistance for the expansion of their rice trading business.

Director Agravante reported that the DOLE Pampanga Field Office awarded P300,000 livelihood assistance to ACME under the DOLE’s WIN-AP, or the Dagdag Kabuhayan Workers’ Income Augmentation Program.

ACME is a duly-recognized labor organization established on 21 May 2008. Initially, association sold rice to its members through salary deduction. Through the WINAP, the DOLE assisted the ACME which managed its members only-rice trading business to become successful. Eventually, it decided to expand and launched the DOLE-assisted Mimosa ACME Rice Trading Project.

“We are thankful to the DOLE, as well as to the MIMOSA management, for this opportunity to increase our members’ income. We are also hopeful that this business will prosper into a successful micro-enterprise and improve the welfare and socio-economic condition of ACME’s members and non-members,” ACME President Reynaldo L. Geron said.

DOLE releases P146.92-M to four sugar planters associations for the benefit of 119,215 sugar workers in Negros Occidental

A total of 119,215 sugar plantation workers in the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) Mill District in Negros Occidental will soon receive their three per cent workers’ cash bonus share representing the increase in the milling participation/agreement between sugar planters and millers provided for under Republic Act No. 809, or the Sugar Act of 1952, after the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 6 released on 28 June the amount of P146,924,461.43 to four sugar planters’ associations.

DOLE Regional Director Ponciano Ligutom said the amount is part of the P152,250,461.43 scheduled to be released to six planters associations this crop year in the BISCOM mill district.

“The P146.92 million will be distributed to sugar plantation workers within the three-month period which starts once the planters’ associations have released the amount to the 16,374 planter-members,” reported Ligutom.

The four sugar planters’ associations, namely, Binalbagan-Isabela Planters

With DOLE support, Mimosa workers expand salary deduction-rice trading to full-time enterprise

Association (BIPA); Planters Association of Southern Negros (PASON), Inc.; Independent Planters of BISCOM, Inc. (IPOBI); and United Farmers Association of Negros South (UNIFARMS), Inc. are qualified to claim the three percent workers’ share from the six planters associations in the BISCOM mill district after they have submitted to the DOLE the required special payrolls as proof that the workers’ cash bonus share released to them in the previous crop years were distributed to the plantation workers.

“By providing short-term, yet gainful employment to the disadvantaged youth in schools nationwide, the SPES has definitely made a difference in the lives of Filipino students who have no means but have the ability to pursue education,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said, as she called on more students and out-of-school youth to avail of the SPES, saying it helps students in the regions, like Gretchen, to bridge education and employment.

In 2012, the DOLE fully utilized its SPES budget of P340-M by providing short-term work to 138,635 students. In the first half of this year, 132,052 beneficiaries have already been enrolled in the SPES, reflecting 88 percent of the expected 200,000 SPES babies targeted under the P441.5-M program.

Strengthening and sustaining the SPES to enhance the employability of young student-workers can only be done with the active partnership and participation of the private sector, says Baldoz.

“We need you to actively participate in the year-round SPES implementation to bring education and employment to more students and out-of-school youth across all regions,” she said.

“Since I came in as DOLE Secretary in 2010, I made it a priority to partner with the private sector and our LGUs to ensure the long-impact of the program to our student-beneficiaries. Such partnership, I emphasize, should be borne out of their corporate social responsibility of helping more poor students,” she added as she explained:

“Of course, we would not have achieved this without the support of the President who pledged to increase the SPES budget every year”.

President Benigno S. Aquino has kept that promise. For 2013, he increased the SPES budget to P441.50 million to reach the target of 180,000 student-beneficiaries.

Established in 1992 under Republic Act No. 7323, which was amended by RA 9547, the SPES is open to all qualified high school, college or vocational/technical students, and out-of-school youth with the aim of developing their intellectual capabilities of poor families and harness their potential for the country’s development. Specifically, the program assist poor but deserving students pursue their education by encouraging employment of those in secondary level during summer and/or Christmas vacations and of those in the tertiary, technical or vocational education levels any time of the year.

DOLE’s SPES helps indigent . . . from page 1

It also aims to develop awareness and appreciation on the available jobs in the labor market which is in lined with their needs and interests.

“Ultimately, the event seeks to make the students experience the careers they are aiming at,” Baldoz said.

“Through this observance, we expect hundreds of thousands of students trooping to colleges and universities in the next school year to already have a fair idea of the labor market that will gear them up towards right career choices,” she added.

The conduct of Career Guidance Week is in-line with the goal of the K-12 Basic Education Program to produce graduates who are ready for higher education, middle level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

High school students from Grade 7 to 12are required to participate, accompanied by their parents or guardians, academe, and other stakeholders. From here on, the event shall be held every last week of July of every academic year.

In order to prepare Career Guidance Week implementors, the Professional Regulation Commission will host a Capacity Building Seminar-Workshop for public and private guidance counselors, principals and school superintendents from the different regions, teachers and other career guidance advocates this 24-25 June.

At the of the 3-day seminar-workshop, the participants will be able to achieve the following: (1) discuss the different career development student competencies, models and implications to the Career Guidance Week activities; (2) demonstrate facilitating skills relevant to and appropriate for the CGW activities; (3) apply the decision-making steps/procedures; (4) use and integrate the needed information about the students/clients, regulated professions, technical-vocational jobs and current LMI for coming up with adequate and well-informed career decisions; (5) explain the appropriate ethical standards related to the CGW activities; and (6) demonstrate the ability to be culturally sensitive and responsive to students/clients.

Towards this end, the labor and employment chief said she anticipates sustained positive action from the government and its tripartite partners, saying that by working together, inclusive economic growth and sustainable development can be fast achieved.

“With the right knowledge about the labor market, we make our students—our future workforce—armed and ready.”

The efforts of DOLE in addressing jobs and skills mismatch is in-line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 22-point labor

and employment agenda, whose overarching goal is to invest in the country’s human resource to make them more competitive and employable.

Government and academe level up job and skills matching; DOLE to observe Career Guidance Week every July

LAUNCHING OF THE CAREER GUIDANCE WEEK. Senior high school students from different secondary schools in Cavite City, dressed in the uniforms of their planned careers and occupations, share smiles after receiving labor market information materials during the ceremonial launching of Career Guidance Week held at Tagaytay City National Science High School, Tagaytay City.

ith the continuous improvement of the country’s business climate and the labor market situation, the government will brook no obstacles and will be

twice as intense in the previous years in addressing the job-skills mismatch in the country.”

This was the statement of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, as she sounded anew the government’s intensified efforts to create a competent pool of workforce through one of many strategies—the observance of Career Guidance Week for secondary students this school year 2013-2014.

“The government is steadfast in conducting roundtable discussions and consultations on policy inconsistencies and administrative inefficiencies that hinder job creation; and one way to show that we are moving forward is the observance of Career Guidance Week on July 2013,” Baldoz said.

The observance of Career Guidance Week is part of the Career Guidance Advocacy Program (CGAP), a convergent program of spearheaded by the Human Development and Poverty Reduction (HDPR) Cluster. The CGAP seeks to address the job-skills mismatch problem.

Its implementation is led by the Department of Education (DepED), in collaboration with the CGAP-Working Group—composed of the DOLE, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Citing DepEd’s Department Order No. 25, s. 2013, which declares the observance of the Career Guidance Week, Baldoz said “the direction of one’s career path can be strengthened in the presence of career advocacy program that defines various jobs which are considered marketable.”

“The observance of Career Guidance Week in all High Schools starting this year is envisioned to prevent too much waste of resources in producing graduates in the tertiary level, as well as in technical vocational level who could not meet the qualification standards for the labor market,” she added.

At the end of the five-day event, as stated in the guidelines, the students shall have acquired information on the following: (1) discovering one’s strengths and developing awareness; (2) the qualification standards for all types of career jobs; and (3) making informed decisions on a career choice.

“W