To create more jobs while addressing students' health concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday announced the launch of a soap-making venture for out-of-school youth (OSY).

Set to be implemented in April, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the cash-in-soap program will benefit some 1.3 million public school students in Central Luzon.

At the same time, Lapus said the program will provide jobs for around 12,300 OSYs, which will earn P4,000 for making 2,000 bars of soap.

"There won't be any summer jobs; rather, we suggested livelihood and emergency employment programs such as medicinal soap manufacturing. This will also address the essential health care needs of students," Lapus said in the weekly forum "Kapihan sa Sulo."

The soap-making venture is part of President Arroyo's Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), which aims to mitigate the effects of the ongoing economic crisis. Lapus is assigned to oversee the implementation of CLEEP projects in selected areas of Central Luzon such as Tarlac and Pampanga.

Lapus said the OSYs were taught how to make medicinal soap by school health personnel who were trained by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care. Last year, some 1,500 OSYs were sent as utility workers in public schools.

"We can tap partners in the community who can take this project to the next level. We see the local government units who are always in the lookout for livelihood opportunities and the private sector which can also pitch in to better improve the technology and marketing," Lapus said in a statement.

The 20-day production period is expected to yield around 24.6 million bars of soap, which are to be given to student beneficiaries in Central Luzon for school year 2009-2010. Citing studies, the DepEd said 46 percent of children in the area have pediculosis or head lice, while 40 percent have skin diseases.

"We will give these soaps to public elementary school pupils who will receive their year's supply of four bars of Citronella soap for their head lice, four bars of Acapulco or Guava soap to combat skin diseases, and 12 bars of Calamansi soap for personal hygiene," Lapus said.

"There is a real need to produce medicinal soap at a minimal cost to keep our school children free from head lice and skin diseases," he added.

DepEd Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Thelma Santos said the cash-for-soap program is one of the department's efforts to improve students' retention and participation rate. Children with such health conditions, the DepEd said, were observed to feel shy and do not actively participate in class activities.