DSWD opens more than 1K slots for internship program

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that it is starting to accept applications for its Government Internship Program (GIP) this year.

DSWD Officer-In-Charge Emmanuel Leyco said they have a total of 1,360 slots for young Filipinos aged 18 to 25 years old.

Qualified applicants should be in college level and high school graduates; TESDA Certificate holders or Alternative Learning System certificate holders or holders of any similar certificate issued by the Department of Education or Commission on Higher Education, members of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines, youth beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and youth included in the Listahanan identified poor family will also be prioritized.

“The DSWD also considers the family income of the participating youth, which must not be more than the existing poverty threshold,” Leyco said.

He added that interested applicants may apply at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan or at the DSWD regional offices.

The deadline of submission of applications is on March 19.

GIP is one of the components of the Kabataan 2000 program of the national government which was developed to provide opportunities for in-school youth to have hands-on experience working in various government agencies.

For the 2018 nationwide implementation, the GIP has a fund allocation of Php10.565 million for the stipend of accepted applicants enough for 30 working days of service.

The program is an opportunity for the youth to learn life skills in the actual workplace, wherein they can be familiar to public service as their contribution to nation-building. The interns will be assigned in various work stations according to their skills.

Their work includes regular office tasks such as encoding, report writing and/or assisting in the implementation of key programs of DSWD such as the Supplementary Feeding Program, Social Pension Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, among others.

“Through the GIP, government is able to extend them financial assistance which they can later use to cover school expenses. This is also a way to impress upon the youth the importance of earning and spending their own money wisely,” Leyco said.

Under the GIP, DSWD will provide the qualified youth with daily stipend amounting to 75 percent of the regional wage rate. (PNA)