By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
The Caloocan City government and the Caloocan City Jail on Monday, Oct. 24, conducted several activities and programs to celebrate the National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW).
Among the activities held were a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officials' motorcade and different recreational sports activities for the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the city jail.
Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo "Along" Malapitan announced that the City Health Department (CHD) will hold medical and dental programs on Oct. 26, as part of its objective to help PDLs access the city’s services.
“Magsasagawa po tayo ng medical at dental mission sa Miyerkules. Nais kong maramdaman ninyo ang serbisyo at malasakit ng ating gobyerno upang sa paglabas niyo rito ay maging katuwang din namin kayo sa pagsusulong ng isang payapa at maunlad na Lungsod ng Caloocan (We will conduct a medical and dental mission on Wednesday. I want you to experience the service and concern of our city government so that when you leave here, you can also be one of our partners in promoting a peaceful and prosperous Caloocan City)," the mayor said.
"Ikinatutuwa ko pong malaman na ang ating mga PDLs ay nagagamit at napagkakakitaan ang kanilang talento sa arts and crafts, bukod pa rito, may mga PDLs din tayong nagpupursigi na pumapasok sa Alternative Learning System o ALS. Nakakagalak ako na kayo ay nagsisikap maging kapaki-pakinabang na bahagi ng ating lipunan (I am happy to know that our PDLs are able to use their talents in arts and crafts to earn money, in addition, we also have PDLs who are in the Alternative Learning System or ALS. I am glad that you are trying to be good members of the community.)," Malapitan said.
Meanwhile, Caloocan City Jail warden Jail Supt. Emmanuel A. Tolentino highlighted the current programs for the PDLs for moral recovery, literacy, spiritual enrichment, and medical services.
In line with this, Tolentino expressed his desire to develop an aftercare program for PDLs in partnership with the city government and barangays.
"Bukod sa ating mga kasalukuyang programa, plano din natin na magkaroon ng aftercare program upang tiyakin na may mga oportunidad na naghihintay para sa ating mga PDLs sa kanilang paglabas. Kami ay makikipag-ugnayan sa iba't-ibang barangay ng ating lungsod upang alamin ang mga trabahong kailangang mapunan sa ating lungsod at upang kami ay makapagbigay rin ng angkop na training at workshops sa ating PDLs (Aside from our current programs, we also plan to have an aftercare program to ensure that there are opportunities waiting for PDLs upon their release. We will contact the barangays in our city to find job vacancies in our city and provide appropriate training and workshops for the PDLs)," Tolentino said.
He also thanked the city mayor and government for their unwavering support of the city jail's programs in helping rehabilitate the PDLs into functional members of the community.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami sa suportang aming natatanggap mula sa ating pamahalaan. Hangad din po namin ang suporta at buong pagtanggap ng ating komunidad sa ating mga PDLs sa kanilang pagbabalik sa ating komunidad (We are grateful for the support we receive from our government. We also hope for the support and full acceptance of our community to our PDLs when they return to our community)," Tolentino added.
The city government said the NACOCOW seeks to raise awareness and public support of the city jail programs and regain acceptance towards PDLs after their rehabilitation.