It’s summer, and a lot of young people are expectedly rewarding themselves with going on vacation, taking hobby classes, or killing time. 

My summers in high school and college were not like that. In my early teen years, I had to help at my grandparents’ stores, since they were sending me to school; at the university, I had to earn to help send myself and my siblings to school. Finally out of college, I didn’t have the luxury of taking one last vacation before working full-time. 

I know there are those now who also have to make a living in the next couple of months before they go back to school, or those who need to land jobs as soon as the graduation rites are over. That’s why I pay attention to advisories sent to the newsroom on internships with pay, summer jobs in local governments, and government-organized job fairs. They definitely have to be shared. 

I’m listing here some of them, and promise to update this piece as more advisories come. 

I just want to point out to job hunters that you are more fortunate than my generation. For one, more LGUs are offering summer placements, with some even closing the loop by hiring their scholars (like what Iloilo does). For another, national agencies are being more proactive in disseminating information through social media. The education department even had the foresight of lowering to 15 years old the minimum age for those who want to work in government in the summer, so senior high school students can apply.

1,440 slots at DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is reviewing applications for summer jobs at its central and field offices. Inquire ASAP at the nearest DSWD unit in your locality because the employment program starts April 17. 

Around 1,440 slots are open to applicants 18 to 25 years old who are:

• High school graduates
• TESDA certificate holders
• Alternative Learning System certificate holders 
• Recipients of any similar certificate issued by the Department of Education or CHED
• Members of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines 
• Youth beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
• Youth included in the Listahanan list of identified poor families

The DSWD will prioritize those who are classified as poor. 

For 30 days, the summer workers will be assigned to office work, including encoding, writing of reports, assisting in the implementation of the agency’s key programs. They will be given a daily stipend that is equivalent to 75% of wage rate in their regions. 

DOLE mounts job fairs key cities in April

The Bureau of Local Employment teams up with local government units, Public Employment Service Offices, and colleges and universities to mount 23 job fairs nationwide in April. Early this month, they had gone to Saguday in Quirino; Tuguegarao City in Cagayan; Bongabon in Nueva Ecija; Juban and Sorsogon City in Sorsogon; Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo; and Kabacan in North Cotabato. 

After Holy Week, the government offices will gather prospective employers and employees in the following regions:

• April 18 Castilla LGU in Sorsogon (Bicol)
• April 19 Leonardo C. Andres Sports Complex, Poblacion, Pandi, Bulacan (Central Luzon); Sulop Covered Court, Sulop, Davao del Sur (Davao Region)
• April 20 Barangay Poblacion, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat (Soccsksargen); Don Caesareo San Diego Gym, Municipality of Plaridel, Bulacan (Central Luzon); Multi-Purpose Building, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato (Soccsksargen)
• April 20-21 Saint Louis University Main Campus, and Maryheights Campus, Bakakeng, Baguio City (Cordillera Administrative Region)
• April 21 Municipal Compound, Poblacion, Santa Maria, Bulacan (Central Luzon)
• April 22 San Roque Elementary School Covered Court, Lacson St., Bo. Obrero, Poblacion District, Davao City (Davao Region)
• April 24 Public Plaza Auditorium, San Manuel, Tarlac (Central Luzon)
• April 25 Poblacion Ilaya Covered Gym, Passi City, Iloilo (Western Visayas); Municipality of Laur, Nueva Ecija (Central Luzon)
• April 28 University of Baguio Gymnasium (Cordillera Administrative Region); Municipal Hall of Llanera, Nueva Ecija (Central Luzon)
• April 29 Insular Square, Mandaue City, Cebu (Central Visayas)

Bring several copies of your resumé; 2 x 2 ID pictures; certificate of employment (for those formerly employed); diploma and/or transcript of records; and authenticated birth certificate. Being hired on the spot is a possibility, says Labor Secretary Bebot Bello. 

You can also submit your credentials via PhilJobNet, the job matching site maintained by the labor department. 

Central Luzon needs 570 cops

The Central Luzon police in Camp Olivas, according to Rappler’s Pampanga correspondent Jun Malig, is set to hire 570 new officers this year: 300 in July, and 270 in November.

Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, the regional police director, says they are looking for these qualifications:

• Filipino citizenship
• Good moral character
• College degree from an education institution recognized by the government
• Appropriate eligibility certificate 
• Not dishonorably discharged from military employment or not dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government
• Not convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude
• At least 1.62 meter in height for male and 1.57 meter for female
• Not weigh 5 kilogram more or less than the standard weight corresponding to his or her height, age, and sex
• Not be less than 21 or more than 30 years old upon taking the oath of office

Those who are interested may submit their applications via the PNP Online Recruitment Application System until 11:59 pm on April 28.

– Rappler.com