MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education-Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD) ensures that not only the skills of their clients, especially the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), are honed, since they also help make values transformation possible.

During the graduation of 100 inmates from the Malabang District Jail in Malabang town, MBHTE-TESD Lanao del Sur Scholarship Program Focal Person Hamdanisah Comacasar said the inmates' skills training didn't just teach them new skills but also helped them improve the skills they already had.

She said this is because, in partnership with the Bangsamoro Development Agency, they also added a three-day Islamic seminar to remind their special clients how important it is to live with Allah's blessing.

"Ang layunin nito ay para maremind ang clients natin about Allah, religion, and life (the aim of this is to remind our clients about Allah, religion, and life)," said Comacasar.

Comacasar also said that in her current job, she tries to help their special clients think less negatively, since most of them are depressed and don't get much encouragement from other people.

"Alhamdulillah, we were able to deliver the training in Malabang despite the distance and hardship in transporting the tools and materials needed for the training kasi may kasabihan kami na ‘Sa TESD Lanao, kasama ka’ [because we have a saying in our office that ‘With TESD Lanao, you are always included]," she said.

Comacasar has been thankful for being able to give skills training to PDLs as, apart from fulfilling their annual target, they are also given the chance to pursue the mission of their priority programs, which is to cover the underprivileged sectors. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)