DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 28 (PIA) -- Chiefs of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) offices in Negros Oriental have attributed the successful rollout of their programs for their clients to the strong linkages they have with other agencies and through the assistance of the Volunteer Probation Aides (VPAs).

Guihulngan City and Canlaon City Chief Probation and Parole Office Mae Lumogdang disclosed that despite their limited resources and manpower, PPA officers have pushed for partnerships with local government units (LGUs) and other institutions in the delivery of their programs geared towards the rehabilitation of the parolees and probationers.

“The way we conduct our programs, dependent siya sa support sa mga LGU. We are doing our best na kaning gisanong sa gobyerno namo mahimo namo (it will depend on the support of the LGU. We are doing our best to deliver the task assigned to us by the government),” Lumogdang said.

She noted that the LGUs in the two areas under her coverage have been supportive of their programs by providing funds for meals during the trainings for parolees and probationers.

Recently, the PPA in Guihulngan City together with the City Agriculturist Office initiated an herbal product skills training activity for their clients who learned how to make cough syrups and ointments out of local herbs.

Canlaon City PPA also partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Vallehermoso and the office of Negros Oriental 1st District Cong. Joselyn Limkaichong for the provision of hygiene kits, alcohols, face masks, and face shields for the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility there as part of their COVID-19 interventions.   

In Bayawan City and Tanjay City, Chief PPO Baby Mamigo said they have established partnerships with local parishes and the barangays for the use of multi-purpose halls for their trainings and community service programs.

Mamigo said both PPA offices in Tanjay City and Bayawan City are serving around 200 clients. 

Negros Oriental Chief PPO Linaflor Dequito also shared that her office coordinating with the barangays for the conduct of community service to be participated in by parolees and probationers.

Dequito said their office is handling 338 parolees and probationers in their coverage area from Sibulan to Siaton.

She said the Negros Oriental PPO has embarked on a bangus livelihood project in Sibulan as part of their livelihood interventions for their clients, noting that despite the pandemic, their office was able to sustain the project and their clients are committed in maintaining this initiative.

Meanwhile, Dequito said their clients have increased as a result of individuals who availed of the plea-bargaining agreement for those convicted in illegal drug cases.

This has put an additional challenge in monitoring the parolees and probationers.

However, she said this task has become achievable with the help of VPAs.

“Makatabang (sila) ug atong gibuhat karon is coordination sa barangay (They are a big help to us. What we do right now is we always coordinate with the barangay),” Dequito said.

Negros Oriental PPO has a total of 54 VPAs who help monitor and supervise parolees and probations.

She said recruitment is still ongoing for those who are interested to be a VPA.

Out of the 338, 311 are probationers and 27 are parolees.

Dequito said more than half of their clients are involved in illegal drug cases.

In Dumaguete City, Chief PPO Maria Necita Mariño said therapeutic community sessions for their clients in the city are done every week with the help of the VPAs.

“We are doing Therapeutic Community (TC) on Saturdays. To conform to the IATF rules, only 20 clients undergo TC. It is done with the help of VPAs. Volunteerism is a flagship program of PPA,” Mariño said.

“(There are) a total of 37 VPAs in Dumaguete. All of them work hand-in-hand with us in conducting rehabilitation activities and in supervision of clients,” she added.  

The chiefs of the different PPA offices in the province highlighted their efforts to uphold the welfare of parolees and probations during a recent Kapihan sa PIA forum to mark the observance of National Correctional Consciousness Week.

This year, the celebration is anchored on the theme “The Jail/Prison Chaplains and Volunteers: Gifted to give love that restores life and healing to the prison community.”

The annual observance aims to promote humane understanding, sympathy for rehabilitation, and social acceptance of parolees and probationers in the different sectors of community and raise awareness for public participation in the re-socialization and reintegration of prisoners, probationers, and parolees into society as productive and law-abiding citizens.

PPA is under the supervision of the Department of Justice.  (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)