PDLs make PPEs as livelihood project inside jail

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ)-female dormitory here introduced its newest livelihood project for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) that could help frontliners in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Inspector Ma. Lorelie Dimaculangan, jail warden, said three PDLs who are skilled in sewing were trained in a one-day Personal Protective Equipment Production online course of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) last month.

Dimaculangan said through the TESDA’s online training course, the three PDLs enhanced their skills in the production of PPE gowns, PPE caps, and cotton face masks.

Dimaculangan said 20 PPE gowns were already sewed by the PDLs, nine of which were already donated.

Six were given to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Negros Occidental Swabbing Team; two to South Hills Academy Building, a Department of Health (DOH) Accredited Quarantine Facility here; and one to Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) Quarantine Facility in Bago City.

The remaining PPE gowns will be sold.

Dimaculangan said materials of these PPE gowns and caps were made of Medical Grade Nonwoven Fabric, as well as the microfiber cotton face masks.

These are water resistant and washable that can also be used against strong heat and chemical reactions, she added.

The jail warden said that materials were purchased online through the jail’s mini store inside the facility, and this will be refunded by the PDL through purchased orders from clients.

The production of PPEs is ongoing. For inquiries and orders, you can send a private message to their official Facebook page – Metrobacoloddistrictjail Female Dormitory.

She said they can also provide labor work for those who are interested to have their PPEs sewed by the PDLs. The jail can sell their PPE gowns in bulk orders for P250 each.

They are also planning to produce PPE suits.

Further, she said she is planning to incorporate the production and donation of these PPEs to the unit’s best practices during this pandemic.

At present, the jail has 218 PDLs.