"My internship paved the way for my first employment at Doctor Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital (DJRMH) when they absorbed me into their hospital as Administrative Aide VI," shares Lovely Mandantes.

Lovely is just one of the 299 interns from Zamboanga del Norte province who have completed their 6-month stint under the Department of Labor and Employment's Government Internship Program (DOLE-GIP).

These interns were made to participate in the GIP Culmination cum Assessment Activity initiated by DOLE thru its Zamboanga del Norte Field Office last May 25, 2018 at the Dapitan Cultural Center.

DOLE 9 Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo shared that the GIP provides 3-6 months' internship opportunity for high school, technical-vocational, or college graduates who wants to pursue a career in public service in either local or national government.

"The DOLE enables them to get a feel of government work and more importantly gives them an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in the field of public service," Dir. Domingo states.

Under the program, the interns receive an allowance equivalent to 75% of the existing minimum wage of the region where the beneficiary is employed ? that is Php222.00 in Region 9.

"The allowance I received as an intern helped defray not only the expenses of my family but more importantly my review for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET)," Lovely continues to share. Recently, she passed the LET and is now a licensed professional teacher. She then expressed her gratitude to DOLE for the GIP as it has helped many young people like her reach their dreams.

The same expression of thanks was also given by Selecta Reo Sumalpong:

"Working under the GIP has made me realize how important and encouraging it is to work with professionals. Not only has it developed my working capacity but it also boosted my confidence and capability to work better and better."

Selecta emphasized how motivated she is because the program did not only mold her professional growth but also helped her through a lot of ways especially now that she

is part of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a support staff under contract.

Government officials from the province also gave their messages of support. Dapitan City Mayor Rosalina G. Jalosjos welcomed the interns and guests while 1st District

Representative Hon. Seth Frederick Jalosjosinspired the interns with his message highlighting his experience as a waiter, his difficulty beinga working student, the struggles he faced while living alone abroad and finally his successwhich sparked valor and inspiration to the interns.

Mr. Ivo M. Mandantes, Supervising Administrative Officer of DJRMH, Dr. VirgilioBatan Jr.-OIC Asst. School Division Superintendent of DepEd and Hon. Riza T. Melicor, Vice Mayor of LGU- Labasonarticulated their gratitude to DOLE and to the interns whose commitment and enthusiasm allowed them to work faster and better.

Moving forward, the DOLE is on the process of employing 100 interns from across the region under the said program purposely to work on the profiling of child laborers. Data obtained from the profiling will be used in determining interventions for child laborers and their families as part of DOLE's advocacy of eradicating Child Labor in all its forms. The chosen interns will again be employed for six months.

END/Karen Grafia with reports from Stephanie Dianne M. Roda