COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 24, 2013) – Some 400 mostly students and part-time workers were hired by the Department of the Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as part of its Summer Job Program.
DPWH Secretary Emil Sadain said those hired to work will take part in “Oplan Linis Bayan” which which includes the cleanup of major thoroughfares in five provinces under the ARMM – Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
He said the program aims to maintain the cleanliness of different towns in ARMM. He said the salaries of the workers – a daily wage of P250 – would come from the DPWH savings.
Sadain said each of the ARMM’s eight engineering districts hired 50 part-timers to augment the equal number of regular workforce engaged in road cleanup.
He said the Summer Job Program is another first in the DPWH’s 23-year history and was made possible through the present administration’s prudent fiscal handling.
Jam Santos, a second year college student in one of the universities in the region, said he is grateful that he was chosen to be included in the summer job program .
“I am happy to be granted the opportunity to earn this vacation,” said Jam Santos, a student, who was among those hired by the DPWH.
Another student hired for the program, Jur Jihan Anton, said she would use the salary to help pay for her school tuition. (ARMM Communications Group)
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