ILOILO City – The city government here, through its government and private partners, has equipped around 50 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with livelihood skills to help them get back on their feet once they are out of prison.
“This is under the six-point agenda of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas for inclusive development. We teach our persons deprived of liberty with livelihood to give them a second chance and they will not return to their old vice in case they go out,” Ma. Mathilde Treñas said on Friday.
Treñas is an administrator at the Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC) Molo campus, which handles the skills training for PDLs.
On Nov. 23, the PDLs underwent the Entrepreneurship for Financial Literacy training under the Department of Trade and Industry and the city government’s Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion office.
Training courses offered included baking and processing food products that can be marketed outside of the facility in partnership with the Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation, which provided all the needed consumables, Treñas said.
The 30 male trainees from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Brgy. Ungka, Jaro received their certificates of completion on Thursday.
The PDL graduates also received P300,000 in seed capital from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), facilitated by Iloilo City’s Rep. Julienne Baronda.
Meanwhile, 25 PDLS in BJMP’s female dormitory along Gen. Luna Street in City Proper underwent beauty care training in partnership with the Daughters of Charity.
Materials were provided, and starter kits will be given upon training completion.
Training in reflexology will also be offered.
The livelihood training that started on Nov. 12 runs for two Saturdays and two Sundays. (PNA)/PN
