GIP halts in San Carlos
No explanations, gov’t interns ordered
to ‘stop working’
Expanded Government Internship Program (GIP) in San
Carlos suddenly stops after interns submitted a daily time record that covers
in advance working days until August 8, the last day of the 52-day program.
The GIP "provides youth, including those who are
out-of-school, opportunities to take part in nation-building through exposure
to government service, train them on skills, and contribution to their economic
well-being," a report from the Philippine Information Agency states. It
aims to employ youth from 18 to 30 years old, especially students so they can
earn their enrollment fees and needs. It was designed for a complete 52-day
work.
Text
But according to a source, who asked not to be named in this
story, a text message circulated on July 16 instructing day care workers to
tell interns that they need not report for duty until further notice because
they have submitted a complete DTR that covers until the last day of the
program anyway.
The source showed the text she received to NRWP. It reads:
"To all dcws (day care workers): please inform your GIPs to stop working
effective tomorrow (July 17) and wait for further notice. Anyway, 52 days na
ila DTR gi submit. (Anyway, they have submitted a 52-day DTR.) Thank you!"
The system
In the city, this program started on May 28 and employs more
than 300 youths. As in the national mandate, the interns were assigned to
different projects and offices supported by the City Social Welfare and
Development Office (CSWDO) such as daycare centers.
The source, who was assigned in one of the barangay daycare
centers, added that among them are students who started attending classes since
June. These students were ordered to work only during Saturdays and Sundays yet
they were told to fill the DTR as if they performed their duty from Mondays to
Fridays. They will also receive the same stipend, equivalent to the required
minimum wage for the region, at P 270 per day as the other interns in the
program. "Unfair para sa uban," the source commented on this
system.
No pay
But nobody received any stipend. "Wala pa mi kadawat
bisan piso," the source stated. Since working on May, they had
submitted DTRs monthly and had submitted the last one on July 10. Yet, they
were not able to receive an amount and were only told that CSWDO is already
processing it every time they ask.
The source also confessed that some of her co-interns have
fallen to debt already because they borrowed money for daily fare to work and
food . Although, basically interns were assigned to centers closest to their
homes there are those who come from far flung barangays.
Out of their own pockets, they are also spending for the
materials of visual aids and toys they are making.
This is among the assigned tasks. However, they had been told
this is not compulsory. An intern may choose not to produce these outputs and
not join the display and contest scheduled on July 28. They also pass weekly
activity reports at the CSWDO.
Communication lines
Asked from whom they are taking orders, the source said the day
care workers relay messages to them and they were told that the orders come
from CSWDO head Cynthia Mirande.
Venting her concerns, the source said that she is at a loss on
what is happening because it was as if they were just told to relax and take a
break yet a salary was promised them for doing nothing.
She also wants to know why they were made to stop working, when
their salary will be given, and why the program's implementation is all in
disarray.
She recalled that at the start the line communication was open
and that CSWDO often conducted orientations and meetings to keep them abreast
on what their tasks are and what they needed to accomplish. However, after they
submitted the advance DTR everything was dropped and they no longer know what
is going on. Many of them, she added, thought that the text was a prank but it
turned out to be true.
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