DOLE says SPES opens career paths for over 151,000 youth
By Trixee Rosel
Published Mar 13, 2026 12:57 pm
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Updated Mar 13, 2026 01:35 pm
At A Glance
- DOLE's SPES provides students and out-of-school youth with work experience.
- The program builds discipline, resilience, and practical skills for future careers.
- Success stories span NCR, Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), Mindanao (DOLE Region 11), and Davao.
- In 2025, SPES supported over 151,000 students nationwide.
Risha Mhie M. Matila (top left), Vincent Buenavidas (top right), Sara Rose Dacula (bottom left), and Arhelyn K. Hatton (bottom right) are former SPES beneficiaries who have gone on to build successful professional careers under the Department of Labor and Employment’s program. (Photos by DOLE Regions 8, 11, and NCR)
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said its Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) helped more than 151,000 Filipino students and out-of-school youth gain work experience in 2025.
The agency said the program provides temporary employment while helping young people develop discipline, resilience, and practical skills needed for future work.
Several former beneficiaries said the program became a stepping stone to stable careers.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), Vincent Buenavidas once worked at the Admissions and Marketing Office of Lyceum of Alabang as a SPES participant.
“SPES was not just a part of my story; it was the foundation of my success,” Buenavidas said.
Buenavidas said the opportunity helped him stay in school while supporting his family.
He is now a professional teacher and senior high school instructor, heading the Office of Student Scholarship Affairs.
In Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), Sara Dacula also joined SPES under the KALAHI program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
SPES also places students in government offices and private institutions where they can gain basic workplace experience.
Dacula now serves as Administrative Aide VI in the local government of Motiong, Samar.
Another former beneficiary, Risha Matila, joined SPES in Mindanao under DOLE Region XI. She eventually became an accountant eight years after joining the program.
“Through SPES, I learned the value of discipline, resilience, and the dignity of hard work. A big part of my achievements today is because of DOLE’s SPES,” Matila said.
The program has also helped participants build confidence and workplace skills.
Arhelyn Hatton, now an officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Davao, joined SPES three times beginning in 2008.
She said the experience helped develop her communication skills and sense of responsibility, which later helped her pursue a career in public service.