The Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory (QCJFD), in partnership with the Quezon City University (QCU), formally launched the tertiary education program for the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the city jail on Monday, Oct. 24, to provide them with an opportunity to finish college.
According to the Quezon City local government, there are 52 women PDLs who enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship which they can complete in two years through blended learning or face-to-face and online classes.
The program is part of the QCJFD’s celebration of the National Correctional Consciousness Week and of the city government’s “No Woman Left Behind” program.
“Malaking tulong ang pag-aaral ng mga PDLs sa pagnenegosyo dahil sila rin ay tinuruan sa livelihood skills training program ng pamahalaang lungsod (The learning of the PDLs in doing business is a great help because they also underwent the livelihood skills training program of the city government),” the local government said in a Facebook post.
Present at the event were QCJFD warden Jail Supt. Maria Ignacia Monteron, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Assistant Regional Director for Administration Jail Senior Supt. Rowena Barredo, QCU President Atienza, who represented Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and city councilors.
Atienza shared the mayor’s message for the event saying that the PDLs can use what they learned in the program when they are looking for jobs or starting a business once they return to the community.
The PDLs also showcased their hand-crafted bags and pillows during the event.
The No Woman Left Behind program aims to help improve the welfare of the women PDLs while they are in detention and once they return to the community by providing them access to the city’s health and education services.
The late former President Fidel V. Ramos signed the Proclamation No. 551 in March 1955, declaring the last week of October as the National Correctional Consciousness Week, to create awareness for public participation in the resocialization and reintegration of prisoners, probationers, and parolees into the society as productive and law-abiding citizens.