99 PDLs finish skills training

By Carlson B. Alelis 

Ninety-nine persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Iloilo City District Jail Male Dormitory completed their skills training in various courses.

Jail Supt. Mary Chanette Espartero, district jail warden, said the training is part of the bureau’s program to equip PDLs while they are inside the facility.

“Magiging productive sila while nandito sila, and they will be able to combat boredom, at the same time, ang skills training nila magamit nila upon their release (They will be productive while they are here, and they will be able to combat boredom, at the same time, they can use their skills training upon their release),” Espartero said.

The skills training for the detainees included shielded metal arc welding national certificate or NC 1; bread and pastry production NC II; pastry making (leading to bread and pastry production NC II); and preparation of cold meals (leading to cookery NC II).

The training, which lasted for about two months, was in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) – Iloilo and Kryz Vocational and Technical School, Inc. (KVTS).

TESDA provided allowances for the detainees.

Meanwhile, KVTS president Concepcion Carillo said these skills training give PDLs an identity, based on their skills, and not their past as eventual ex-detainees.

“So, we give hope to these people of BJMP, we give them an inspiration, and we give them an opportunity to avail of the Abot Lahat Program of TESDA,” Carillo said.

KVTS made their trainers available for the training and donated uniforms for shielded metal arc welding.

Further, the school also donated an industrial oven and a welding machine to the facility.

The graduates received their certificates during the culminating activity inside the facility in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district in Iloilo City, Feb. 18. (PIA-6)