BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Baguio City Jail – Male Dorm now has a library.
 
Baguio City Jail - Male Dorm Warden Jail Superintendent April Rose Ayangwa with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong represented by Executive Assistant Benjamin Macadangdang and Congressman Mark Go represented by his wife, Soledad Go led the ribbon cutting and formal opening of the library inside the jail facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Baguio City recently.
 
Ayangwa said that the library inside the jail facility aims to provide learning opportunities for personal development, well-being, and, ultimately, rehabilitation of persons deprived of liberty. It also aims to incorporate reading activities as one of the options for PDLs to earn time allowance for study, teaching, and mentoring.
 
She explained that the establishment of the library was initially a directive by the national headquarters and thru the help of the various support groups, service providers and other stakeholders the city jail was able to establish a functional library which is being used not only for educational purposes but also for the decongestion program of the BJMP.
 
In his message, Magalong said that the unit library is a decal of hope in the darkness of incarceration. It will serve as a source of knowledge providing access to array of books – literature and educational sources to the persons deprived of liberty.
 
“The library is a not a mere collection of books but it is a symbol of empowerment offering the persons with disability opportunities to expand their horizons, discover new passions, and acquire valuable skills. Thru this initiative, we can empower them to acquire the skills and knowledge that will be valuable upon reintegration into society,” Magalong said.

  Go lauded the efforts of the Baguio City Jail management for the establishment of the library inside their facility which will be very useful and functional for persons deprived of liberty until they will go back to the mainstream society someday.
 
“This is a very laudable project because it will not only open the minds of the persons deprived of liberty but it will actually mold their minds in the long run,” Go said.
 
“This is a form of education, and Cong. Mark’s advocacy is on education, how to mold and enhance the minds of our citizenry and the persons deprived of liberty are no exception,” she added.  
 
Go encouraged the residents in the city jail to continue to read books and educate themselves even inside the jail facility not only to improve their reading skills but also as a way to channel their mental health and avoid depression inside the city jail.
 
Meanwhile, the city jail management as well as the residents are appealing to other stakeholders to pitch in support to the new library facility by providing books that they could use such as law books and other reference books and learning materials.
 
Jail guards as well as persons deprived of liberty are appealing to other stakeholders to pitch in support to the new library facility by providing books that they could use.
 
Ayangwa said that among the books being requested include psychology, values and law fo some residents who wants to study their cases. (RMC- PIA-CAR)