MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--Sixty-nine interns in the province went through an orientation on their roles and responsibilities as beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE)-10 Government Internship Program (GIP) in a series of sessions from February 13-17.

Raul Valmores, chief of the DOLE-10 Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO), clarified that the beneficiaries signed the internship agreement as their official commitment to the six-month program.

As the second group of interns, they will be sent to different government offices in the province from March 1 to August 31 of this year to get work experience.

Valmores made it clear that most interns would be sent to different Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) to help with putting DOLE programs and services on social protection and job facilitation into action and keeping an eye on them. These efforts contribute to inclusive growth through substantial poverty reduction and massive employment generation.

Aisha Nicole Magpulong, an intern and Information Technology (IT) graduate from Kitaotao, shared that the program allows her to financially help her family through the stipend she will receive, equivalent to 75 percent of the highest existing minimum wage in the region, and at the same time gain public service experience for future career growth.

"Because I am an IT graduate, I can use my skills to help the office where I would be assigned by encoding and troubleshooting computers. I am also flexible and willing to share my skills with co-workers and clients," Magpulong said.

The GIP is a component of the KABATAAN 2000 program of the Department, which aims to provide opportunities for young workers, aged 18 to 30, to work at the government's national and local levels in serving the general public.

It also gives young poor or indigent individuals a chance to demonstrate their talents and skills to attract the best and brightest who want to pursue a career in government service, particularly in the fields and disciplines related to labor and employment. (DOLE-10/PIA-10/Bukidnon)