One major challenge for persons deprived of liberty (PWDs) is finding a means to support their families once they are released from incarceration.
This is the main reason the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO), has collaborated with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to train PDLs in various jails in Laguna to hone their livelihood skills.
Thirty female and 20 male PDLs from detention facilities in the City of Santa Rosa City are currently being schooled by food experts from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños Institute of Food Science and Technology.
Charles Andrew Reyes, a senior science specialist and program coordinator of PSTO-Laguna, said the program aims to equip these wards with valuable livelihood skills that they can use to earn an honest living once they are released.
"This immersive experience is designed to equip them with practical skills that they can leverage upon reintegration into society," he explained in a media interview, highlighting the program's aim to foster self-sufficiency and confidence among the participants.
The curriculum covers a range of skills, including the processing of banana and cassava chips, from harvest to the final stages of preparation, the PTSO official added.
Participants are educated on proper handling, cooking techniques, and storage practices, ensuring that they acquire not only technical skills but also a thorough understanding of food safety standards, he said.
"By providing comprehensive training and support, DOST-PSTO Laguna and BJMP are taking significant strides towards creating a more conducive and rehabilitative environment within the correctional system," Reyes said.
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