Manila: The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicol has intensified efforts to equip persons deprived of liberty (PDL) with skills they can use upon returning to their communities.

According to Philippines News Agency, BJMP Bicol Regional Director Jail Senior Superintendent Jose Gemelo Taol announced a free technical skills training program in welding and motorcycle maintenance, implemented in partnership with Bicol University. The initiative aims to provide PDL with practical, marketable competencies that could open employment and livelihood opportunities after their release.

Taol emphasized that the program reflects the bureau's commitment to making rehabilitation meaningful by preparing PDL for productive lives beyond jail. He stated, "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."

Technical experts and extension faculty from Bicol University will train 25 inmates from Legazpi City Jail and 25 from Ligao City Jail in welding and motorcycle maintenance. Participants who complete the training requirements will receive certification, providing them with credentials that may improve their chances of securing employment or pursuing livelihood opportunities after release.

Taol highlighted that skills development is an important component of BJMP rehabilitation programs because it helps PDL build self-confidence, acquire useful competencies, and prepare for eventual reintegration into society. He noted the significance of sustained partnerships with academic institutions in expanding opportunities for PDL while they serve their sentences.