INCOME-GENERATING activities of inmates inside the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail and Rehabilitation Center (MOPJ) are flourishing as the Capitol buys the hand-made products and promote these to the public, a jail official said Tuesday, October 9.
Around 800 detainees are engaged in making chicharon, slippers, candles, rosaries, plaques, and Christmas lanterns.
MOPJ warden Dominador Tagarda said the success of the inmates' business is attributed to the administration of Governor Yevgeny Emano who financially supports the business endeavors of the inmates.
"Dili matukib ang kalipay sa mga binilanggo tungod sa pagpaluyo sa gobernador sa ilang pangitaan (Inmates are happy because of the support of the govenor),"Tagarda said.
"Gikalipay usab nila ang suporta as kapitolyo nga gapalit sa ilang produkto para sa nagkadaiyang kalihukan sa kapitolyo ug pagpromote niini sa publiko (They are also happy because the capitol is buying their products and promote it to the public),"he added.
Tagarda said the prices of the inmates' products range from P15 to P750. Christmas “parols” (lanterns) are also being displayed now at the MOPJ.
He added that inmates continuously earn income not just for themselves but also for their respective families.
Meanwhile, Emano commended the inmates' cooperative and cited this as an example to other cooperatives in the province.
"Bisan tuod nga naa sila sulod sa pasilidad ang nanag-iya sa maong kooperatiba, nahimo gihapon nilang makatabang sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka pamilya (Though they are inside the detention facilities, they were still able to help their families)," Emano said.