A total of 1,482 new graduates are expected get firsthand experience in public service through the Government Internship Program (GIP).

GIP is an employment-experience initiative of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) aimed to help young members of the labor force gain experience particularly in public service.

“After earning a degree in college or diploma from tech-voc courses need to have work-related experiences. This program aims just that, to give a chance for fresh graduates to have work experience especially in the government,” said DOLE Davao regional director Joffrey M. Suyao during the GIP orientation held recently in Compostela and Nabunturan towns in Compostela Valley Province.

“This is also intended for our young graduates from poor families and promote youth employment,” Suyao added.

To qualify, the applicants must be between 18 to 25 years old and present proof of graduation from high school, tech-voc or college degree courses and the Certificate of Indigence from their respective barangays.

To date, there are already 454 who availed themselves of the program while still a number are on the process of application. As interns, they will receive P225.75 per day wage or 75% of the existing daily minimum wage of the region.

Under the program, 1,116 fresh college and tech-voc graduates, and high school graduates from Compostela Valley Province, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental are expected to be employed for about three to six months. Another 366 beneficiaries will be employed in Davao City.

“We also hope that through the program, we attract the best and brightest graduates who want to pursue career in government service,” Suyao said.

GIP is in line with the provision of Executive Order No. 139, series of 1993, implementing the GIP as component of Kabataan 2000, to provide opportunities to young workers who serve the general public in government agencies/entities, projects and programs at the national and local level.

Under the program, fresh and young graduates are employed by the department to assist in the implementation and monitoring of programs and projects. For DOLE Davao Region, majority of the GIPs are assigned to facilitate the National Skills Register System at barangay level across the region.

Sherwin B. Manual/DOLE11