CEBU CITY, Cebu, October 18 (PIA) – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is highlighting their rehabilitation and reintegration programs for the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) during their 28th National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW) on October 22 to 28, 2023.

During a Kapihan sa PIA for a held on October 18, BJMP Chief Community Relations Service Section and Regional Chaplain JSupt. Thomas Augustine Catarata said the celebration aims to promote awareness both in the public and private sectors on the plight of PDLs.

Catarata said the celebration is also a message of hope for the inmates and to the society on the PDLs’ eventual reintegration into society.

“We are proud of the developments of the PDLs and of how the therapeutic community modality program (TCMP) changed their lives,” said BJMP Development Program Monitoring JO1 Jezer Rae Rodriguez in the same program.

The TCMP aims to manage and modify the behaviors of PDLs with the goal of positively changing their thinking and behavior through structured group processes.

The program endeavors to teach and model positive thinking, pro-social values, good decision-making, and positive coping.

Through the TCMP, PDLs are able to work harmoniously with their fellow inmates and are able to participate in livelihood programs, skills training, enhancement programs, cultural and sports programs, interfaith programs, and educational programs.

“We are very proud of our PDL who were able to finish their elementary, high school, and senior high even if they are behind bars,” said Catarata.

“Mao ni nagpamatuod nga ang prisohan eskwelahan dili basurahan (This is proof that the jail is a school and not trash),” he added.

In Region 7, a total of 1,603 PDLs were able to graduate from elementary, high school, and senior high through the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education.

He added that the bureau, together with their partner agencies, are doubling its efforts to open a college program that will help strengthen the skills program for the PDLs.

“Kini holistic approach jud kay para rehabilitation ug reintegration sad sa PDLs to society kay eventually makabalik man jud na sila sa katilingban (This is a wholistic approach for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the PDLs into society as they will eventually go back to society),” said Catarata.

Part of the week-long celebration of NACOCOW is the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement  (MOA) between BJMP and Cebu Technological University (CTU) and the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on October 23 after the opening ceremony.

Other activities are the livelihood display and art exhibits at SM City Cebu, which will feature the products from the PDLs coming from the 42 jail facilities in Central Visayas.

Items on display are native bags and purses, bonsai made of beads, rugs, paper crafts, and wood crafts.

Online or e-marketing of PDL products are also being managed by the jail unit welfare and development officers even after the NACOCOW exhibition.

A forum with the students from CTU will also be conducted on October 24. 

BJMP will also hold a bloodletting activity together with personnel from Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police starting October 25 at the Cinema Lobby of SM City Cebu.

Meanwhile, for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election 2023, the PDLs have been granted the opportunity to cast their votes on October 30.

In Region 7, there are 5,520 PDLs who are registered voters and who will be allowed to vote onsite or offsite. 

Offsite voters are those with court orders who are allowed to go to voting precincts and will be assisted by BJMP and PNP personnel. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)