Leyte: Sixty persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) will have the opportunity to earn a college degree while serving their sentences under a new education program launched in partnership with Abuyog Community College (ACC).
According to Philippines News Agency, the program, named Project Paglaum, will offer a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, with formal classes set to begin on September 1. The 60 enrollees will be divided into two sections and attend classes three times a week. ACC president Clemelle Montallana highlighted that the program follows the prison's existing junior and senior high school initiatives, aiming to facilitate the reintegration of PDLs into society as productive individuals after their release.
Montallana emphasized that the program is designed to provide PDLs with knowledge and livelihood opportunities, reducing the likelihood of recidivism. He noted that by supporting PDLs in their educational pursuits, society benefits from a decrease in crime recurrence.
The entrepreneurship program was chosen based on a survey of potential students and the constraints of offering other degrees within the prison. Montallana explained that courses requiring laboratory facilities, like information technology, were not feasible, and education programs were oversubscribed. Entrepreneurship offers a focus on self-employment, business ownership, and partnerships.
The program adheres to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) requirements, though on-the-job training poses challenges for incarcerated students. Tuition will be fully covered by the government's Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. ACC plans to include PDL graduates in its job-placement database and connect them with potential employers upon their release.
In the first semester, ACC will deploy six personnel to teach the students, with plans to increase to nine in the next semester. Preparations include transportation arrangements for teaching staff and classroom construction inside the prison, built by PDLs themselves.
Correction Officer 2 Noli Ann Billo, acting deputy superintendent for reformation of the LRP, stated that the 60 students were chosen based on their eligibility and the expected duration of their incarceration. Applicants needed to have at least five years remaining on their sentences to ensure continuity in the program, with priority given to PDLs in the maximum security camp.
Of the 60 enrollees, 57 graduated from the Department of Education's Alternative Learning System. Most students are over 20 years old, with some senior citizens participating. Billo mentioned that this is the first college education initiative by a prison under the Bureau of Corrections, although a similar program exists at New Bilibid Prison through a private organization.
The free college education initiative at LRP is supported by the local government unit of Abuyog and CHED.
