Iloilo district jail to become skills training hub

By Mariela Angella Oladive

As part of efforts to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. announced plans to convert the Iloilo District Jail (IDJ) in Pototan into a full-fledged training and livelihood center for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

The initiative was unveiled during the provincial flag-raising ceremony on Monday, October 20, in line with the observance of National Correctional Consciousness Week.

Governor Defensor said the long-term vision is to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited training facility within the jail compound in Barangay Nanga, Pototan.

The program, in partnership with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and TESDA, aims to equip inmates with employable skills and entrepreneurial knowledge to prepare them for life after incarceration.

“We want to transform the Iloilo District Jail into a training center… This is to prepare our detention prisoners for reintegration in the future,” said Defensor.

In addition to technical training, the governor is pushing for the creation of a hatchery facility within the jail premises.

This will be linked to the nearby Agri-Aqua Research and Technology (ART) Center, a project of the provincial government, to introduce aquaculture-based livelihood opportunities for inmates.

The Iloilo District Jail — formerly known as the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center — was previously managed by the provincial government before being turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The facility currently houses more than 1,000 inmates.

Governor Defensor has maintained strong ties with the IDJ, regularly conducting outreach activities such as annual gift-giving events for inmates.

He also reaffirmed his support for the BJMP and the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), emphasizing the need for a humane and reform-focused justice system.

The proposed transformation of the IDJ aligns with national correctional reform goals and underscores the province’s commitment to inclusive rehabilitation programs.