Learning basic skills

Asentista learned welding from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(Tesda), through a scholarship provided by Tesda as endorsed by the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology in Davao Region (BJMP-Davao) Regional Director Jail Chief
Superintendent Leo P. Baldon.

Asentista is just one of the many PDL scholars who learned skills in different courses at Tesda,
namely, electrical, plumbing, welding, carpentry, among many others.

BJMP-Davao also sends scholars for information and communications technology (ICT) training.

Edwin Nadias, head of the Welfare and Development Unit (WDU) at BJMP-Davao, said any PDL
who wishes to avail of a scholarship will only need to approach them and relay their intention.
They will then endorse their names to Tesda, which is their partner for the PDLs’ scholarship
program.

PDLs’ livelihood program

During the implementation of strict community quarantine due to Covid-19 where people were
mostly confined in their homes, the BJMP-Davao’s Welfare and Development Division, headed
by Jail Senior Inspector Ellen Rose S. Garcia, looked for ideas to cash in on the trend of the
season to help the PDLs become productive and income-generating.

Since ornamental plants and gardening became the social media trend during lockdowns,
Garcia along with Davao City Jail Annex Jail Chief Inspector Carlos G. Lanzuela, jail warden,
brought up the idea of making decorative metal plant holders to the PDLs.

The PDLs readily supported the plan because they knew this is the way to unburden their
families back home.

“Now, more than ever, almost everyone is economically struggling, this is our PDLs’ way of
being financially independent where they don't need to ask for money from their families
outside,” she said.

For Asentista, this is a very welcome project to relieve his family from his regular, albeit petty,
financial demand.

“Makatabang kayo siya sa amoa unya na-enhance pud among gieskwelahan sa Tesda. Pangit
man paminawon nga nakatabang ang pandemya sa amoa, pero dako gyud kini nga tabang
kaysa maglingkod-lingkod ra mi diri niining panahon sa pandemya, he said.

(This project really helped us and it also enhanced what we have learned at Tesda, although it’s
not good to hear that the pandemic really helps too, but it is during this time of pandemic that
brought this initiative of producing handcrafted metal plant holders than just sitting here and
wait for the pandemic to be over.)

Aside from mainly helping the PDLs become self-sustaining, the livelihood projects are also part
of the BJMP’s rehabilitation program for the PDLs so that when they go out of the world they
are in, they can apply the livelihood training and become productive citizens.

“The beneficiaries

In selecting the workers for the BJMP’s livelihood program, a PDL needs to have completed
Tesda training to ensure that the finished products are of high-quality and competitive against
the mainstream market. Formal training is also required for the safety of the PDLs who will do
works that entail dangerous or fragile equipment and/or method.

In this project, however, PDLs who have completed NC-II welding training from Tesda were
selected. Those who have skills in painting metal were also “hired.”

Garcia said around 20 skilled PDLs from Davao City Jail Annex benefited from the livelihood
program.

Nadias, however, added that if the demand for their handcrafted metal products increases,
they will also increase the number of workers.

“If more PDLs want to join, they have to undergo Tesda training,” Garcia said.

Asentista finished 200 hours of welding training at Tesda as a scholar.

Income sharing

With the BJMP-Davao WDU’s limited seed funding, they started purchasing basic needs and
raw materials for handcraft metal projects for the PDLs. The project entails some expensive
tools needed for metal handcrafting, which saw the budget lacking. Luckily, their jail warden
extended help and lent the amount the unit needed, which the unit and the PDLs assured will
be returned immediately after the products are sold.

Their arrangement is that when products are sold, they will secure first the capital
expenditures and return it to BJMP so that the program will be sustained even when the
trend on ornamental plants has died. If and when there would be no more demand for their
current products, they still have seed capital for another project.

They will also pay their debts to anyone who lent them money to pursue their project and, in
this case, to their jail warden, Lanzuela. The remaining amount will be divided equally among
the PDL workers.

“The BJMP does not receive any monetary compensation for these products,” Garcia said.

For Asentista, he has no complaints about the income-sharing rule for their livelihood project
because the BJMP is very transparent with the cash-flow and makes sure that every amount is
accounted for.

“Okay kaayo ang division sa ginansya kay equally divided man (the division of the profit is
equally divided so it’s very good),” he said.

The market and the product

Since the PDLs heavily rely on the internet to find potential buyers for their products,
demands are not that big yet, especially when the handcrafted metal plant holder project is
still a few weeks old. Fortunately, more orders are coming in, both from new as well as repeat
customers.

“The reception has been overwhelming and PDL workers are very much happy for the
satisfied feedback,” Garcia said.

To date, 21 pieces of iron bicycle plant stand and 18 pieces of iron spiral staircase have been
sold.

“Our products are posted on the BJMPRO-11 Official web page, the majority of our customers
just saw our posting online,” Garcia said.

Nadias added they are also relying on the word of mouth of their customers. Testimonies on
how beautifully made their handcrafted metal plant holders have also helped in marketing
the products and sustaining the project.

He said their products are specially labeled with a sticker that reads “Handcrafted by PDL
from BJMP-R11” to emphasize that the products the PDLs have made are specially built from
the heart and not just manufactured mechanically.

This is also to instill in the PDLs that BJMP-Davao is proud of its products.

“As long as there is a demand for our handcrafted products, our facility will continuously
produce the same,” Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Asentista happily shared that they are on their way to mass-producing metal
plant holders as more orders are coming in. He hopes that one day, he will not only stop
asking money from his family but will be able to send money to them as well.
He is asking the public’s support, especially since the sustainability of this project depends on
the demand.

“Ila untang itangkilik among produkto kay ang pagkahimo ani kay from the heart, (I hope they
will patronize our products because we handcrafted these from the heart),” Asentista said.

School program provides technical-vocational classes for inmates

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 02:59 PM October 02, 2021
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) of Mandaluyong City Jail has
partnered with the Department of Alternative Education of La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) for
Liwanag Project, a program that provides basic education and technical-vocational classes
to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

This academic year, the initiative benefits 57 students in elementary and 135 in junior high
school. There are also over 50 participants for the technical-vocational hairdressing
courses. The monthly values formation seminars accommodate approximately 700 inmates.

In 2019, the venture commenced as a series of formation sessions, when Br. Vincent
Fernandez, FSC, chairperson of the Commission on Alternative Education of the De La
Salle Philippines, together with Br. Ruben Caluyong, FSC, now based at the Jaime Hilario
Integrated School-De La Salle Bataan, started to conduct recollections for the PDLs of
Mandaluyong City Jail.

At the onset of the pandemic, the PDLs expressed their interest to further their education.
This inspired the Lasallian Brothers and the volunteer-teachers of LSGH to collaborate and
elevate the sessions into full-fledged online classes for basic education and technical-
vocational trainings.

The Liwanag Project, which follows the school calendar of the Department of Education
(DepEd), has since produced a number of graduates: 14 for basic education, 49 for junior
high school, 20 for technical-vocational hairdressing and eight for food and beverage
classes.

“The project was established to fulfill the call to mission of our founder St. John Baptist De
La Salle and we have always been convinced that it will continue for as long as we are
needed,” stated LSGH Alternative Learning System team leader Catherine Laguitan. “We
are always open to welcome all because education is for all.”

Their department likewise keeps in touch even after graduation or release from jail, so they
can continue their education and participate in reunions.

The Liwanag Project recently extended its efforts to San Juan City Jail for alternative
learning system and Values Formation classes. It likewise facilitated recollections for the
personnel and PDLs of Valenzuela City Jail.
LSGH Department of Alternative Education conducts diverse programs for community
learners, such as out-of-school youth and adults, students with special needs, as well as
workers and domestic helpers.

Two projects of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) that will provide medical assistance,
educational access and livelihood opportunities to persons deprived of liberty (PDL)
and their families were launched on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in simple rites at the BJMP
Headquarters.

The Swerte at Tulong sa Lahat, Serbisyong Tapat ang Lahad Project (Fate and
Assistance to All, All projects are Honest Public Service) also dubbed as (STL
Double) and the 2021 BJMP National Painting Competition are national support
programs that cater to the basic needs of the PDLs in the district, city and municipal
jails.

Department of Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado led the

project launch stressing that it provides “the peripheral sector of our society’’ access
to adequate health services, education and livelihood opportunities which “ is a
business of not one government agency only.’’

“If we want our goal achievable in a much shorter time than our original target, let us
all share this responsibility,” Avisado said. 

“History would remind us how powerful unity of government agencies is if we are

working and walking hand in hand. Ang masasabi ko lang ay pagtulungan nating
iangat ang ating mga kapatid sa piitan (All I can say is let us unite to uplift our
brothers in jail). Let not the faults of their past ruin a very promising future for them,”
he added. 

During the ceremony, Avisado commended BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan Iral, the
BJMP Community Relations Service Office (CRSO) headed by Jail Chief Inspector
Xavier Solda for the partnership program with the PCSO and PCSO General
Manager Royina Garma for their “support to the low-income families of the PDL.’’

The STL Double Project

With its support to “the poorest of the poor and the marginalized sectors’’, the PCSO
is committed to extending assistance to the PDLs and their immediate families for
scholarships, medical support and opportunities for livelihood programs.
Garma said the PCSO wants to enhance public awareness that the government
provides assistance to all sectors of society regardless of social status.

She noted that the twin projects epitomize the government’s efforts to provide the
PDLs with fresh starts and lead lives of righteousness specifically those imprisoned
due to illegal drug trade.

The PCSO said that it donated various medical supplies to augment the BJMP’s
resources in its fight against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID 19).

2021 BJMP National Arts Competition

“Visual arts is one of the welfare and development programs in the BJMP for
persons deprived of liberty. To some PDL, it is a therapeutic activity that helps them
cope with their situation inside the jail. It is also a source of livelihood where they
earn a little amount, extending to their families outside,’’ the BJMP said.

For the current year, the BJMP chose 50 PDL visual artists across the country
mostly women and facing drug charges to join the competition.

The national art contest is now a decade old project of the BJMP after it was first
launched in 2011 as one of the major activities during the 1st BJMP Community
Relations Service Month.

Iral also expressed gratitude to the “potential impact of the PCSO’s assistance’’ in
the anti-drug campaigns of the BJMP where “additional support would be extended
for the continuous reformation activities for those who face drug-related offense.’’

 Livelihood programs provided by the 1st district of Quirino province to the participants
during their incarceration

The policy guidelines for BJMP Livelihood projects stipulates that the inmates are entitled to
receive livelihood programs. The in-charge specifically the Inmates Welfare Development
Officer (IWDO) of jail is responsible to assess the needs for livelihood and look into other
opportunities to fulfill the inmate welfare objectives (Standard Operating Procedures Number
2011-2). There are different livelihood trainings and skills program that are offered by the BJMP
to Persons Deprived of Liberty, the different programs were: Electrical Installation/Basic
Electronics, Massage Theraphy, Bread and Pastry, Masonry and Carpentry, which was availed
by the participant as it is evidenced by the responses of the participants. Participant 1
that:“Maraming Livelihood program ang ibinibigayng BJMP Cabarroguis, meronsilang offer na
electronics, carpentry, masonry and may bago yung bread and pastry”(There are multiple
livelihood programs offered by the BJMP like: electronics, carpentry, masonry and bread and
pastry)