PAGBILAO, Quezon — Selected persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the BJMP Quezon District Jail got a unique livelihood skill, package of technology/seed and gardening materials from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-CALABARZON as they immersed themselves in vegetable production and culture management practices last February 8, 2023.
According to BJMP – Quezon, the activity was done and similarly patterned with previous cooperation of the Jail Bureau with other sectors, such as the Gulayan sa Paaralan and the Gulayan sa Piitan to encourage the community to plant vegetables.
In his message, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer, Dr. Eduardo R. Lalas emphasized the importance of attaining food self-sufficiency of the jail community through their learned skills and continue cultivating vegetables even after they have been released out of jail.
“This would be done for them because farming inside the prison compound could be one of the best ways to introduce reforms and promote productivity among PDLs,” said Lalas.
Meanwhile, Quezon District Jail Warden, Jail Supt. Jack Lord B. Cariño has high hopes that the training they received, especially for probationers, will equip them with a means of sustainable livelihood, adding that jail management ensures that released PDLs will be supported all throughout as follow up extension.
Jail Officer-2 Joefrie Barbacena Anglo on the other hand said, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in partnership with government and non-government organizations conducts trainings on vegetable production to enhance PDL agriculture skills and knowledge particularly in organic farming. (RMO/PIA Quezon with reports from BJMP-Quezon)