HUNDREDS of students in Muntinlupa City gathered at the Muntinlupa Sports Center on Wednesday for the orientation of Batch 2 beneficiaries under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).
Mayor Ruffy Biazon said the program aims to give students practical workplace experience that could help them compete for jobs after graduation.
Biazon said many employers prefer applicants with work experience, even for entry-level positions, placing fresh graduates at a disadvantage.
He said SPES allows students to experience real-world working environments while still studying.
“You should value that experience,” Biazon told the students.
He said the lessons learned in workplaces, including dealing with people — coworkers, supervisors, and responsibilities — are experiences that cannot be fully taught inside classrooms.
Biazon also encouraged the students to maximize the opportunity, saying the experience gained from the program is more valuable than the temporary income they would receive