BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) – A total of 39 persons deprived of liberty detained in the Mountain Province District Jail as well as 10 jail officers from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have recently completed their training in bread and pastry making and tile-setting.

Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. gave his assurance that they will continue to forge a strong partnerships with stakeholders to provide developmental programs for the PDLs.

Technical Education and Skills Development  Mountain Province acting provincial director Melita D. Pinic emphasized that the training program will help the PDLs when they get reintegrated back to society.

“As you move forward, whether you choose to embark on a career that you have, or you may start your business, or pursue further education, remember that the skills you have acquired will be invaluable. They will open doors of opportunity, and enable you to make a positive impact on the world around you,” she said.

Bureau and Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) -Cordillera regional director Jail Senior Superintendent  Kenneth A. Bid-ing challenged the PDLs to work forward to a bright future.

“Sa ating mga PDL, use every opportunity, and your God-given talents and skills in improving yourselves, especially upon your return to your respective family and community. Never underestimate every achievement that comes your way. You will never know where it will bring you, and manage to seek success rightly at your own pace” he said.

In response, a PDL-beneficiary expressed gratitude, saying that the training will be a huge help to them especially after they are released from confinement.

“We learned a lot and I am sure we will use this to find a job someday if we get out here, and thank you to the other programs like ALS(alternative learning system), because I finished secondary here because of ALS, thank you very much. To our warden, thank you very much for allowing this to happen,” he said.

The TESDA-Cordillera State Institute of Technical Education-Mountain Province Campus and BJMP-MPDJ have signed a memorandum of agreement to further foster development of the PDLs and jail officers in the province.

Last year, 62 PDLs successfully completed skills training on driving, masonry, and ice cream making. (CVBT-PIA Mountain Province)