The Department of Agriculture is opening its doors to young Filipinos looking for temporary jobs staring April, activativating its 2026 Summer Youth Internship Program in what is envisaged as both a workforce immersion drive and a talent scouting exercise.
The 45 working day program will run from April 24 to June 30, 2026 under Executive Order No. 139, covering the DA Central Office, regional field offices, bureaus, attached agencies and corporations. Interns will work regular government hours and earn daily wages based on prevailing regional minimum rates, subject to available funds.
At the Central Office, 30 slots are up for grabs, including five reserved for differently abled applicants who can handle office based tasks. The program is open to students, high school graduates or college level youth, as well as out of school youth who have not stopped schooling for more than two years.
“Beyond summer income, the DA is positioning the internship as a recruitment pipeline.”
Beyond summer income, the DA is positioning the internship as a recruitment pipeline.
Participants will be placed in a manpower pool that agencies may later tap once they qualify for public employment. In effect, the department gets a 45-day window to assess work ethic and aptitude, while interns gain front row exposure to how government programs are executed.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. framed the initiative as an investment in character as much as career. Tiu Laurel recalled joining his family’s fishing business at 19 and learning lessons from seasoned fishing hands who had spent decades at sea.
“When you start working young, you learn more than technical skills. You learn discipline, accountability, and respect for hard work,” the agriculture chief said. “Those early experiences shape how you face challenges later in life.”
The agriculture head said structured exposure to the workplace can give young people a clearer sense of direction.
“It builds confidence. It helps them understand responsibility.”
“It builds confidence. It helps them understand responsibility. And for some, it may even open the door to a future in public service,” he said.
Applicants must be 18 to 25 years old, in good health, not related to any DA official or employee in their assigned office, and must not have previously joined the program.
Selection will hinge on written exams and interviews, with priority given to financially needy applicants.
For many, summer 2026 may not mean vacation. It may mean clocking in.
