Sablayan Prison eyes college education for PDLs at Polytechnic University
The Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Occidental Mindoro has started talks with officials of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) on the provision of college education for qualified persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Friday, Sept. 29.
PUP has a campus in Sablayan town, the 21st campus nationwide.
BuCor said that SPPF Superintendent C/Supt. Robert A. Veneracion led a meeting with PUP Vice President Pascualito B. Gatan last Sept. 12 and tackled the project of launching college education at the detention facility.
It said the move was a groundbreaking initiative “aimed at transforming the lives of PDLs, including the professional development of SPPF employees.”
“The said meeting holds the promise of a brighter future, not only for the incarcerated individuals seeking to rebuild their lives through education, but also for the dedicated staff working diligently to facilitate this transformative journey within the walls of SPPF," it also said.
During the meeting, the bureau noted “Gatan wholeheartedly expressed his support for the realization of this transformative project.”
“His endorsement underscores the commitment of educational institutions like PUP to contribute positively to society by providing opportunities for rehabilitation and skill development within the prison system,” it said.