The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Metro Manila hailed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for providing projects that enhanced the livelihood sources of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under its supervision.
“Panaderia de Manila is one of the livelihood sources of the PDL in Manila City Jail. DOST funded the purchase of the brand-new bakery equipment worth P541,500.00 after the MOA (memorandum of agreement) signing last June 29, 2021,’’ the BJMP said.
BJMP-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Jail Chief Superintendent Luisito Muñoz expressed gratitude to the DOST for its continuous support to the bureau’s rehabilitation projects that provide the much sought after livelihood to the PDLs.
He also urged the Metro Manila BJMP jail wardens “to discover the potentials of our clientele-PDL and develop them into a fund-creating activity that will at least help them earn a living for their families while incarcerated.’’
After the Nov. 23 on-site inspection at the Manila City Jail, the DOST NCR Director Jose Patalinjug commended MCJ warden Supt. Elena Rocamora and jail personnel for the orderly and systematic management of the bakery.
Patalinjug has vowed to push for more funds to start other worthy projects for the BJMP inmates.
During the inspection Muñoz and Patalinjug got to taste the coffee and bread brewed and baked in the MCJ bakery.
Earlier Rocamora stressed that the donated bakery equipment had expedited the mixing process of dough, increased baking capacity and improved the food safety of the PDL-workers.
She added that the expansion and improvement of the MCJ Bakery will raise sales and productivity for the PDL consumers inside the facility.
The PDLs at the MCJ belong to several gangs such as the Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Commando, Bahalan Na, Batang City Jail and the Cuerna or a cell for inmates who have no tattoos or gang affiliation.
Rocamora revealed that all the PDL groups have been supporting the jail’s bread house where the bakery’s income is used to finance PDL livelihood programs and fund their weekly feeding projects. (Chito A. Chavez)