The Department of Education (DepEd) recently hired a total of 200 new workers in its central office in Pasig City to adhere to President Arroyo’s order for more employment generation.

In a bid to create more jobs for the unemployed, especially in today’s economic instability, the administration has prioritized employment generation through the Comprehensive Livelihood and Employment Emergency Program (CLEEP) under Executive Order 783.

Under the EO, all cabinet members of the administration are instructed to draw up emergency work programs and doable and fundable livelihood projects for the middle class, middle-low income class and the poorest of the poor.

The employment program specifically intends to hire workers for emergency employment and to help fund and supervise livelihood project.

“The first batch of CLEEP beneficiaries started working last July 1. Out of the 200 jobs committed by the department, 142 slots were already filled by the first batch,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said.

Last August 3, 58 more CLEEP beneficiaries joined the education agency, filling the remaining slots. The new government employees mostly were displaced workers, out of school youths, and high school graduates and some were hired from job fairs while others were walk in applicants.

Most of the CLEEP beneficiaries work as data encoders and clerks while some are nursing and dental aides, electricians, utility workers, carpenters/masons, auto mechanics, and drivers.

The salary range from P7,000 for utility personnel to R9,000 for professionals/ skilled workers.

Being the largest government agency, DepEd Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya emphasized that the agency has “the largest responsibility because it gives frontline service – education – to the people.”

However, since the program is just an emergency employment program, all CLEEP workers’ contract of service will end on December 31 this year.