BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Caraga Region has started the implementation of the Expanded Government Internship Program of the government.

The DSWD said that the Expanded Government Internship Program is part of the Aquino administration’s efforts to strengthen youth participation in nation-building, expose them to government service, train them on life skills, and contribute to their economic well-being.

The regional office has informed the local government units about this program and has been receiving applications region wide.  The DSWD is now calling on interested students, college graduates and graduates of vocational courses who are unemployed, to apply for summer jobs under the Expanded Government Internship Program (GIP). The GIP is also open for out-of-school youths who would want to take part in nation-building.

Interested individuals, aged 18 to 30 years old, can go to the DSWD Caraga or City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development (C/MSWD) offices to submit their applications together with a photocopy of their birth certificates.

The Caraga social welfare office has set a deadline for submission of application on April 27, 2012 and has started the shortlisting today, April 24, 2012. All applications are subject to the screening of the field office.

In this program, qualified applicants may start work immediately and has to complete 52 days of work.  This means that applicants can start anytime as long as they can complete the 52 days.

The qualified applicants can be assigned in the regional office, or in the various C/MSWD offices including centers/institutions. Interns will be asked to perform not only actual office work but also assist in the implementation of the numerous DSWD programs and projects. They may also do direct service through field work in communities where DSWD programs and projects are implemented in partnership with local government units.

The actual internship program will start on May 2, 2012.  The interns admitted into the program shall be provided with stipend commensurate to the applicable minimum wage in the region.

The DSWD will be hiring 90,865 youths nationwide with a budget allocation of more than P1.3 billion. In Caraga region, 3,179 youths will benefit the program with a budget of P42.6 M.

The DSWD still continues to implement the regular Government Internship Program for 2012 with a budget allocation of P1.8 million for the stipend of 340 youths nationwide.

The expansion of the program will allow the DSWD to reach out to more youths. ### (DSWD Caraga – Social Marketing Unit) April 24, 2012.