DOLE EMPOWERS FORMER OSY TO PURSUE COLLEGE EDUCATION THROUGH SPES IN BATANGAS

In the pursuit of quality education, financial barriers often serve as walls of challenges for many young Filipinos. 

For 19-year-old Judy Ann F. Dela Cruz, a resident of Barangay Dela Paz Batangas City, she can attest how their family has been experiencing these financial constraints just like many Filipino families. 

Ms. Judy Ann F. Dela Cruz, 19-year-old and former SPES Beneficiary of PESO Batangas City (Photo by Leomar De Torres/ DOLE BPO)

Trying to make ends meet, her family’s humble livelihood in kaing (basket) making proved insufficient to support her collegiate aspirations. 

Following her graduation from Senior High School, Dela Cruz faced the reality of potentially abandoning her education. "Ang kabuhayan lang po kasi ng aking pamilya ay yung paggawa po ng kaing. That time po naisip ko na tumigil po sa pag-aaral kasi hindi po kaya ng magulang ko na suportahan ako," she recalled.

Guided by the experiences of fellow youth in her community, she sought the assistance of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Batangas City that bridged her to the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) - an opportunity for a youth like Judy Ann to not just acquire new experiences in a workplace, but also earn to fund her studies and eventually acquire her college degree.

Ms. Judy Ann F. Dela Cruz, 19-year-old and former SPES Beneficiary of PESO Batangas City (Photo by Leomar De Torres/ DOLE BPO)

Dela Cruz’s commitment to the program was marked by two consecutive years of dedicated service. In 2024, she was assigned to the Office of the City Civil Registrar, where she gained hands-on experience in assisting clients and managing complex documentation, including the assembly and encoding of land titles. Her professional growth continued in 2025 at the Office of the City Assessor, where she further honed her administrative skills.

Reflecting on her growth, she shared, "Noong una ko po sa SPES, na-realize ko na lang po na ito na pala yung realidad na tatahakin ko balang-araw." 

She treated her salary with meticulous care, prioritizing her long-term academic needs. "inipon ko po siya para po gawing panimula sa pag-aaral ko po and inipon ko po ito at itinabi para po kapag kailangan ko na po sa school ay may makukuhanan po ako."

According to her, the transition to university life at BSU-NEU was both exhilarating and demanding. Ms. Dela Cruz admits that balancing academics with the rigors of reality was difficult, noting a period where she suffered from anemia due to the strain of her responsibilities. Despite the challenges, the discipline instilled in her by the SPES program remained constant.

Ms. Judy Ann F. Dela Cruz, 19-year-old (Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

"Before SPES po natatakot po akong mag-take ng risk na mag-trabaho po, and after SPES naman po nabigyan po ako ng pagkakataon na maipakita sa sarili ko na kaya ko yung tunay na realidad at mag-trabaho and after ko po mag-SPES, habang nag-aaral po ako, nadala ko po yung natutunan ko, hanggang ngayon po" she said. 

Today, her ambition is clear: to finish her degree and become a flight attendant.Currently, Ms. Dela Cruz is a first-year Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management student at Batangas State University – The National Engineering University (BSU-NEU). Her journey from an Out-of-School Youth (OSY) to a university scholar stands as a testament to the transformative impact of the SPES program.

Addressing other OSYs who may feel discouraged by their current circumstances, Ms. Dela Cruz offers a message of perseverance. "kung natatakot po kayong mag-take ng risk sa pag-aaral pwede niyo naman po siyang i-set aside and mag-focus sa work and masasabi ko po na kapag kumikita na kayo ng pera wag naman po sanang kakalimutan na mag-aral and yung pag-aaral naman po ay makakapag-hintay, kahit ano naman pong edad ay pwede parin pumasok." she emphasized. 

 Ms. Judy Ann F. Dela Cruz, rendering time on SPES Program (Photo: Contributed/Official Documentation)

For her, the program is best defined by one word: Bridge. "SPES po ang naging tulay para sa aking pagpapatuloy sa pag-aaral" she concluded.

Ms. Judy Ann F. Dela Cruz, 19-year-old and former SPES Beneficiary of PESO Batangas City with Mr. Noel Silang/ PESO Manager of Batangas City (Photo by Leomar De Torres/ DOLE BPO)

In closing, she offered a heartfelt sentiment to the institution that facilitated her transformation, "Maraming salamat po sa DOLE dahil isa po kayo sa mga naging daan sa pagbabalik ko po sa pag-aaral and sana po marami pa po kayong matulungan na mga kabataan na may hinahangad po sa buhay na makapagtapos po ng pag-aaral," Ms. Dela Cruz remarked.

The success of Judy Ann Dela Cruz serves as a proof of the importance of the SPES program in narrowing the gap between economic hardship and academic achievement. As she continues to navigate her journey at Batangas State University, she stands as a shining example of the positive impact of national government programs on the lives of Filipino youth.#