THE Public Employment Services Office (Peso) is calling on out-of-school youth (OSYs) in Davao City to apply for the remaining slots under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), an annual initiative that offers short-term employment opportunities to poor but deserving students.
Peso-Davao Manager Lilibeth Pantinople announced in a recent media interview that vacancies are still available, especially in local shopping malls.
"Akong gusto i-announce na kadtong out of school youth na gusto mag-apply sa Gaisano Mall open pa ang atong slots wala pa ka interview ang atong private partner sa Gaisano mall and gina-priority nila kay out of school youth kay mag-work man gud sila og hours (I want to announce that out-of-school youth who want to apply for work at Gaisano Mall are welcome. Slots are still open, and our private partner has yet to conduct interviews. They prioritize OSYs since they can work more hours)," Pantinople said.
Interested applicants may submit their resumes at the PESO office located at Almendras Gym until all slots are filled.
She added that aside from mall partners, other private companies and the City Government of Davao are also participating in the program, with some SPES beneficiaries already assigned to local government offices.
“Last Saturday nag conduct ta'g orientation para ma-assign sa City Government of Davao (Last Saturday, we held an orientation for those who will be assigned to the City Government)," she said, noting that slots for fast-food chain partners have already been filled. Pantinople reminded the public that this opportunity only comes once a year.
The Spes program can run for up to 78 days and is jointly funded by public and private employers, who shoulder 60 percent of the wages. The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) covers the remaining 40 percent. For 2025, DOLE has allocated 465 SPES slots for Davao City.
This effort is part of a broader initiative to address youth unemployment and promote inclusive economic participation, especially among those not enrolled in formal education.
In 2024, the Department of Education-Davao Region (DepEd-Davao) reported that social and economic hardships were the main reasons many learners chose not to enroll for two consecutive school years since 2023.
DepEd-Davao regional director Allan Farnazo said that students’ decisions were often driven by urgent personal and family needs that must be addressed “in a timely manner.”
As part of their collaboration, DepEd helps identify out-of-school youth across Davao City, while Peso connects them to employment programs like Spes to help improve their chances of joining the workforce. DEF
