by Larry Lopez TABUK, Kalinga (23 October) -- Another batch of 108 students who worked last summer under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) received this month their pay from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Lourdes Canseco of DOLE-Kalinga said the regional office has just released P202,638 as DOLE’s 40% counterpart to the summer job pay of these students. The other 60% share was given earlier by the employing agency.

Last March, 510 students were given job placements in the province by DOLE under the program but only 491 have been endorsed due to non-completion of requirements by 19 of them, Canseco disclosed.

This batch of 108 students bring to 289 the total number of SPES beneficiaries already paid by DOLE under the program this year. The first batch of 181 students received their pay last August.

Canseco hopes that the remaining 202 students will be paid before the end of this month, upon issuance of the National Cash Allotment (NCA) of their office. DOLE has finished processing all the requirements.

She explained the delay in the release of SPES payments was partly due to the late submission by the students of the requirements.

Under RA 7323, students are given opportunities to earn for their education by rendering work in government and private agencies.

Students working under the program, however, receive varied rates depending on the income classification of employing local government units and private agencies. But they are protected under the Minimum Wage Law.

First class municipalities give daily rate of P207.91, while fifth class municipalities offer P168. In the province, only the capital town of Tabuk is under 1st income class.