The Department of Labor and Employment in Western Visayas has allotted P20.5 million for this year's Special Program for the Employment of Students, DOLE Director Ponciano Ligutom, said yesterday.

Ligutom said the budget will be equally divided by the private and public employers who submitted their pledges to be part of the SPES program.

The wages of the students are paid by the employers and DOLE through sharing with the labor department paying 60 percent and employers shelling out 40 percent of the wages, Ligutom added.

Food entrepreneurs
get training for IFEX

Preparations for Negros Occidental's participation in the forthcoming 9th International Food Exhibition Philippines are gearing up with the consultants of the Center for International Trade Missions and Expositions conducting Phase III of the capacity-building program for Negrense Micro Small and Medium scale entrepreneurs, a press release from the Capitol said.

The CITEM is a Department of Trade and Industry agency.

Its consultants are training the SMES entrepreneurs on food at the Negros Occidental Barangay Center, the press release said.

Fisherfolk groups
briefed on projects

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources chief Carlito Delfin recently met with three fisherfolk associations in Bacolod City about their project proposals that were approved by the BFAR Region 6 for funding, a press release from the Bacolod City government said.

Members of the Banago Group of Small Fisherfolk Association, Kitahanon Small Fisherfolk Association, Punta Taytay Marginalized Fisherfolks Marketing Cooperative, and Villa Esperanza Neighborhood/Fisherfolk Association met with Delfin at the BAGOSFA Office in Barangay Banago.

Delfin confirmed the approval of P210,000 worth of projects proposed by the associations with the assistance of the Bacolod City Agriculturist's Office, with the funds set for release in the next three months, the press release said.