The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has mobilized 370 recent college graduates from two government-run higher education institutions in Zamboanga City to join its cash-for-work program. The initiative, announced on Wednesday, April 29, aims to provide temporary employment and professional experience to the new graduates.
Beneficiaries from State Universities
The DSWD-Zamboanga Peninsula office confirmed that 185 of the beneficiaries are graduates of the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU), while the remaining 185 come from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology (ZSCMST). All 370 individuals completed an orientation session at the ZPPSU Gymnasium on Tuesday, April 28, in preparation for their deployment.
Orientation and Training
During the orientation, DSWD Social Welfare Officer III Jocelyn Decierdo and Community Development Officer II Efren Loyloy of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-Cidss) led the sessions. Decierdo briefed the participants on the program's core objectives and administrative requirements. The orientation also covered workplace ethics, employee development, and workplace culture.
ZPPSU Director for Placement Zcharina Tinaytina conducted a session on workplace ethics, encouraging the graduates to uphold high professional standards. She noted that previous participants from ZPPSU have secured permanent positions in their assigned offices due to their diligence and strong performance.
Encouragement from University Officials
Dr. Cyrus Pil Cadavedo, ZPPSU Vice President for Student Affairs and Services, urged the beneficiaries to look beyond the financial compensation. He emphasized that the program should be seen as an opportunity to learn while earning and serving the community. “The program may be temporary, but learning should be the beneficiaries' main driving force wherever they will be deployed,” Cadavedo said.
Deployment and Compensation
The beneficiaries are scheduled to begin their service on Monday, May 4. They will be assigned to participating HEIs, the Department of Education (DepEd), the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and the DSWD-Zamboanga Peninsula office. Each participant will work for 25 days and receive a daily wage of P439, totaling P10,975.
The DSWD-Zamboanga Peninsula stated that the Cash-for-Work Program (CFWP) serves as a vital professional stepping stone for youth in the region. Implemented under the Kalahi-Cidss Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB), the program specifically targets graduates from higher education institutions.
