How inmates in Kalinga empower themselves during pandemic

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Since inviting trainers to teach the persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in Kalinga had been restricted due to the pandemic, skilled inmates took the task and had been conducting the training to empower their fellow PDLs.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Tabuk District Jail Chief on Inmates Welfare and Development Program, Senior Jail Officer 2 Jeafe Dulliyao explained that they cannot yet seek assistance from outside for the livelihood trainings of the PDLs to keep them safe from the Covid-19 virus.

This is the reason, she said, that as an alternative, they launched a program where they encourage the skilled PDLs to share their knowledge and skills instead.

“Dagiay learned PDL, ag-conduct kami iti skills training nga isuda iti i-utilized mi [as speaker], isuda iti ag-demo,” she said.

Meanwhile, apart from allowing the detainees to earn a living during incarceration, the trainings being provided to them also aim to equip them with enough knowledge and skills which they can apply once their jail term is done.

“Kumbaga mai-prepare mi isuda a maging self-sustained ken productive nga individual nu lumaya dan. At least nu lumaya da, adda iti skill da a gamiten da para iti means of living,” Dulliyao explained.

Livelihood products

Once skills are acquired, the PDLs proceed to making the different products they can sell outside. As of now, there are five products being sold at the BJMP Tabuk District Jail.

Among these include bamboo mugs, walis tambo, tambo frame, cogon basket, and cogon jar.

Dulliyao explained that BJMP Tabuk District is providing their capital. This is why in every item sold, the capital of the item will be taken and the rest of the sale will be given to the PDL as his or her labor.

As an example, she cited that for every purchase of the P150 bamboo mug, P50 will be given to the PDL. The money they get, Dulliyao added, will either be sent to their families outside or they will keep them as savings.

To support the PDL, you can avail their products through BJMP Tabuk District Jail Official Facebook, Tabuk DJail Kalinga.

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