889 Metro out-of-school youth learn, earn from DOLE's SPES-TWSP program

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday reported that 889 out-of-school youth from various cities and towns of Metro Manila have been provided with opportunity to earn while attending skills training under the Special Program for the Employment of Students-Training for Work Scholarship Program (SPES-TWSP), a convergent program of the DOLE and its attached agency, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

"The SPES-TWSP brings together two of the premier projects of DOLE and TESDA on youth employment and skills training. It specifically capacitates an OSY, who may also be an occupationally disabled worker, a person with disability, a displaced worker, or a victim of trafficking, or illegal recruitment, or child labor, to be self-employed," said Baldoz.

Baldoz said the capability-building for SPES-TWSP beneficiaries comes in through the provision of necessary technical support on entrepreneurship. The DOLE and the TESDA have shelled out a total of P8.6 million for the SPES-TWSP program in Metro Manila.
A report to Secretary Baldoz of Atty. Alan Macaraya, regional director of the DOLE-National Capital Region, showed that 60 percent of this amount had been given by the TESDA in the form of students' training and assessment fees, and the 40 percent had been disbursed by the DOLE-NCR as payment for training allowances.

Aside from the training allowances, the DOLE-NCR has also set aside P3.5 million in the form of livelihood starter kits which would allow OSYs to engage in their trades immediately after their training.

"As of date, 725 of the 899 OSYs had already received Php 3,009,999.19 in allowances after they completed their technical-vocational courses in various TESDA-accredited learning centers. The remaining 164 OSYs will receive their allowance amounting to Php 407,333.68 upon their graduation," Baldoz said.

According to Baldoz, the TESDA-NCR had provided a minimum of 20 days, or 160 hours, to a maximum of 52 days, or 416 hours, training for the 935 OSYs in such technical-vocational courses as Automotive Servicing NC II; Bartending; Bread and Pastry Production; Dressmaking NC II; Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II; Housekeeping; Motorcycle/ Motorcycle Engine Servicing NC II; Food and Beverage Service NC II; Commercial Cooking; Haircutting; Computer Hardware Servicing NC II; and Shield Metal Arch Welding NC II.

Baldoz said the 889 OSYs came from CAMANAVA, 169; Makati-Pasay, 142; Manila, 111; MUNTAPARLAS, 201; PAPAMAMARISAN, 164; and Quezon City, 102.
In its effort to address youth unemployment in the country, the DOLE acknowledges entrepreneurship as a viable alternative for salaried employment which the jobless youth and new entrants to the labor force can consider and engage in.

"The SPES-TWSP is currently implemented nationwide, prioritizing OSYs in the poorest areas of the country's 16 regions as identified by the Cabinet-level Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster. It is open to anyone who wishes to participate, provided he/she qualifies," Baldoz explained.

To qualify for a SPES-TWSP slot, an OSY must meet the following requirements: (a) he/she must be between 15 to 25 years old and has reached at least high school level; (b) parents' combined net income after tax does not exceed the latest annual regional poverty threshold for a family of six as provided by the National Economic and Development Authority; (c) has an average passing grade during the last school term attended; and (e) has not previously availed of the TESDA's scholarship under the TWSP or the Private Education Student Financial Assistance.

Baldoz encouraged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities the SPES-TWSP offers, saying it is not just a means to provide employment, but a way to give young people, especially the marginalized group, a sense of meaning and belonging.

"It brings back the alienated and marginalized youth into the economic mainstream as they develop new skills and experiences that can be applied to many other challenges in life." - president.gov.ph — ARA