The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment Region II (DOLE R02), had facilitated 175 youth beneficiaries for the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), which concluded on August 03, 2023 at the CEZA Corporate Center, Centro, Sta. Ana, Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport.

As part of its community-support programs, CEZA implements various activities and projects to support the youth. The SPES, for one, has been participated by CEZA since 1999 with DOLE and CEZA locators to help members of the youth gain skills and work experience, and to assist poor but deserving students and out-of-school youth from low-income families to finance their education through temporary employment.

This year’s SPES was implemented for 20 days per batch starting January to August 2023, and was participated by four locators of CEZA, namely Hi-Source Services, Inc., Ikona Drafting Services Philippines, Inc., Succeed Asia Ventures Inc., and Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company Limited. The payout of the employed youth was based on the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, and was subsidized by the government through a 40:60 share between DOLE and the employer. Jobs made available included support services like clerical work, housekeeping, attendant, receptionist, and motorpool support, among others.

CEZA intends to continually support this DOLE program, which is consistent to the former’s mandate in employment generation, community support and youth empowerment. #SaCEZAKabahagiKa