Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. lauded the illegal drugs reformation program of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), saying it establishes self-respect in a move to give a new lease of life to those detained for illegal drugs-related offenses.
Dubbed as Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) (Value Life, Shun Drugs), the program is implemented in all the facilities of the BJMP.
“Mga nakakulong, paglabas graduate na ng college (PDLs, when they are released are now college graduates). Truly, the essence is rehabilitation,” Abalos continued.
In a message during its 31st anniversary celebration, Abalos cited the BJMP’s rehabilitation programs, especially for ensuring that PDLs under its care “get to enjoy their right to education and the BJMP’s leadership under Jail Director Allan Iral whom he described as one of the best”.
The BJMP’s College Behind Bars and Alternative Learning System (ALS) programs for the PDLs has already produced thousands of graduates from elementary to college.
“I commend General Iral and his team for the College Education Program and the ALS program, and we are going to expand this,” Abalos stated.
As of Aug. 2022, a total of 16,091 PDLs have benefitted from the ALS program of the BJMP through its ‘Tagapangalaga Ko, Guro Ko (My Guardian, My Teacher)’ program.
With the College Behind Bars program, the tertiary education counterpart of the ALS in jails has produced five college graduates among the PDLs in the Davao City Jail, with 57 PDLs currently enrolled in the program.
Iral assured that the BJMP will commit its full support to the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan” campaign of the DILG.
He vowed that the BJMP will remain to be a strong partner of the DILG in eradicating the proliferation of illegal drugs by ensuring the 100 percent drug-free facilities in all of its 477 jails nationwide.
“Maka-aasa po kayo na patuloy ang pagsisikap ng BJMP na linisin ang aming mga pasilidad sa anumang uri ng ilegal na droga (You can all be assured that the BJMP will work harder in cleansing its facilities from any illegal drugs),’’ Iral said.