The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the Bicol region has intensified its rehabilitation initiatives to empower persons deprived of liberty with practical skill sets ahead of their eventual reintegration into society.
In a statement issued Friday, BJMP Bicol Regional Director Jail Senior Superintendent Jose Gemelo Taol announced a partnership with Bicol University to conduct free technical courses in welding and motorcycle maintenance.
The program aims to provide selected PDLs with employable skills to secure steady livelihoods and job opportunities after completing their sentences. A total of 50 inmates—25 from Legazpi City Jail and 25 from Ligao City Jail—are participating in the specialized training modules led by technical experts and extension faculty from the university.
Participants who complete the coursework will receive formal certifications to boost their job prospects.
“We want our persons deprived of liberty to leave our facilities not only with hope, but also with skills that they can use to earn an honest living and rebuild their lives. Through partnerships such as this, we are giving them a better chance to return to their families and communities as productive individuals,” Taol said.
Taol emphasized that vocational education is essential to the bureau’s broader rehabilitation framework, as it builds self-confidence and provides tangible pathways toward honest work outside detention.