COTABATO CITY— Labor and Employment Minister Romeo Sema led in this city on Friday, August 6, the releasing of the two months stipends of 145 Government Internship Program (GIP) beneficiaries from Maguindanao province.
GIP is an intervention of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), under its Bureau of Employment Promotion and Welfare, aimed to provide opportunities to fresh college graduates to work in the government for three (3) months.
The beneficiaries received their salaries for the months of June and July. They are yet to complete their internship for August. Each monthly stipend was worth Php4,950.00 or equivalent to 75% of the minimum wage.
Minister Sema emphasized that GIP is one of the major programs of the Ministry to help unemployed college graduates in the region enhance their skills and talents.
According to him, MOLE has targeted 1,900 beneficiaries across the region for this year, 400 of which are allotted for graduates from Islamic institutions.
Sema also encouraged the GIP beneficiaries to take advantage of their mobile phones while searching for permanent jobs.
“Mayroon naman mga other opportunities, maski nasa bahay sila ay pwede sila mag-negosyo gaya ng pag-online selling… Ang kailangan ay kung paano sila maging creative sa kanilang ginagawa while naghahanap sila ng trabaho,” Sema said.
“Kailangan lahat tayo matuto maghanap buhay. Wag kayo ma-discourage, we will try our best in our ministry to help you under this program,” he added.
MOLE also conducted Continuing Labor Education and Career Coaching for the beneficiaries. The coaching included discussions on illegal recruitment and trafficking, labor market information, stress management, and work ethics for productive workers.
Aziza Guiamel, 30, a secondary education graduate from Cotabato State University, said the training she gained during her internship will be of big help to improve her skills and knowledge.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Bangsamoro Government na binigyan nila ako ng opportunity na maging parte ng programa na ito. Sana sa future ay marami pa kayong matutulungan,” said Guiamel who was assigned in the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – BARMM.
Similar distribution of stipends in the island provinces will be also held this month. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
