(BJMP PHOTO)
Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory (QCJMD) warden Supt. Warren M. Geronimo bagged the 43rd “2025 People’s Choice Excellence Award’’ in a ceremony held at the Manila Hotel on Saturday, July 20, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said.
In bagging the “Dangal ng Bayan Award,’’ Geronimo was recognized for his exemplary leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service.
The BJMP explained that the “prestigious Dangal ng Bayan Award’’ is bestowed on outstanding Filipino achievers who have demonstrated excellence and integrity in their respective fields.
“The event was organized by the People’s Choice Awards Committee and the Asia Pacific Awards Council (APAC), led by Awards chairperson Amelia Sunio-Abarquez,’’ the QCJMD noted.
Among his accolades, Geronimo was acknowledged for his overwhelming support to the transformation of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to be productive members of the mainstream society enticing the full backing of their family members under the “community welfare program.’’
Geronimo said that a “family module’’ under the Katatagan, Kalusugan at Damayan ng Komunidad (KKDK) program was conducted for the PDLs and their relatives.
In the said activity, Geronimo disclosed that the QCJMD discussed the importance of “the PDLs and their families working together to prevent re-entry to wrongdoing, such as illegal medication use.’’
Geronimo explained that the measure aims to get the family’s support and love to hasten the PDLs’ transformation process with their active involvement leading to successful rehabilitation.
Further, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) revealed that the KKDK Program was implemented in the BJMP “as their facility or institution-based rehabilitation program’’ to prepare the PDLs with substance use disorder for their successful return to the community.
In one of DDB's featured researches entitled "Multi-site Evaluation of the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK) as a Jail-based Program in Quezon Province", it was concluded that KKDK is an effective approach for PDLs with drug-related cases piloted in the five BJMP facilities located in the province.
Among the identified outcomes observed from KKDK completers are the absence of cravings for drugs, improved coping strategies, behavioral and attitudinal change, impulse control, social connection, strong desire for family reconciliation and successful community reintegration.