Fund woes faced by employers and local government units (LGUs) during the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down the implementation of the youth employment programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) since last year.
Data from the DOLE showed the number of beneficiaries of its Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) was reduced to 42,055 last year during the onset of the pandemic from 123,351 in 2019.
Likewise, the beneficiaries of its Government Internship Program (GIP) also dropped to 25,929 in the previous year from 45,121 in 2019.
During the budget hearing of DOLE at the House of Representatives last Thursday, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay attributed the trend to the lack of funds from private sector and LGUs to pay for the salaries of the student beneficiaries.
“Most of their funds are still being poured into their Covid-related services,” Tutay said.
Under SPES, DOLE’s partner private companies or local government unit (LGU) provide temporary employment programs to qualified students.
In the case of GIP, DOLE partners only with government agencies or LGU to provide temporary employment to qualified youth.
For SPES, DOLE usually shoulder 40 percent of the salary of the youth beneficiary, while its partner private company pays for the remaining 60 percent.
In the case of GIP, DOLE already pays 100 percent of the stipend of the student beneficiaries, according to Tutay.
The number of beneficiaries for both programs have since recovered as the government starts to ease its quarantine restrictions as well as start its Covid-19 vaccination drive. Based on its initial 2021 data, DOLE was able to register 45,6888 SPES beneficiaries and 31,315 GIP beneficiaries this year.
Tutay, however, said the existing economic disruption caused by the pandemic will continue to prevent many companies and LGUs from participating in their SPES and GIP programs.
To address the matter, Tutay urged the House of Representatives (HOR) to consider including a special provision in the proposed 2022 national budget, which will allow DOLE to pay 100 percent of wages of SPES and GIP beneficiaries.
Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago said they will consider the said proposal from DOLE.