CEBU CITY – Hundreds of inmates benefited from a humanitarian mission that a Cebu City-based foundation conducted in Metro Manila last October.
The charity mission was held by the Semi Di Speranza Foundation Inc. (SDSFI), a non-profit organization based in Barangay Labangon here, at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-run Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 in Taguig City on Oct. 25.
At least 400 inmates and personnel benefited from the optical mission in line with National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW).
Jail Senior Insp. Marc Francis Bauya said the annual celebration of NACOCOW became more meaningful because of SDSFI’s charity event.
Bauya said NACOCOW is one of the most-awaited activities for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) as it has become an avenue for them to reconnect with the community, especially with organizations that advocate people's welfare, health, and education.
The SDSFI donated to the BJMP four iPad tablets, eight smartphones, nine smart TV sets, and five laptops.
On the other hand, the Filipino Family Club International Inc. (FFCII) donated sacks of rice to the BJMP.
The gadgets will be used for the BJMP's e-hearing and “e-dalaw” programs since non-contact visitation is the only avenue where PDLs can reach out to their families at the moment.
The group had earlier held a charity mission in Negros Oriental and Benguet.
Last Oct. 16, SDSFI was in Valencia, Negros Oriental to conduct free eye check-up and distributed free eyeglasses to 400 individuals, mostly senior citizens. This was initiated by Dong Batalan, FFCII president, who celebrated his birth anniversary that day.
A week later on Oct. 23, Kapangan, Libungan, Tublay, and Atok hosted the SDSFI’s charity drive in Benguet.
Chili Tita Cabatingan, founder of SDSFI, said the four municipalities reached out to FFCII founder Francis Leo Marcos for the conduct of the humanitarian drive.
Dubbed “Mega Humanitarian Drive,” the event was held at the Kapangan Municipal Gym where at least 5,000 residents received free eyeglasses and 80 others free wheelchairs.
Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin said the humanitarian event was as an early Christmas gift for the beneficiaries.
The SDFSI pledged to hold regular optical mission for jail personnel and PDLs.