WENDELL Asentista, a person deprived of liberty (PDL) or more commonly referred to as a person in jail, has two kids back home. Being in jail, instead of mainly providing for his family especially during this time of Covid-19 pandemic when more people are suffering economically, Asentista became a "liability." He was asking for money from his family to provide for his other needs while inside the jail.
That is until an opportunity knocks at all the doors of PDLs, including him, one day.
Learning basic skills
Asentista learned welding from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), through a scholarship provided by Tesda as endorsed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Davao Region (BJMP-Davao) Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent Leo P. Baldon.
Asentista is just one of the many PDL scholars who learned skills in different courses at Tesda, namely, electrical, plumbing, welding, carpentry, among many others.
BJMP-Davao also sends scholars for information and communications technology (ICT) training.
Edwin Nadias, head of the Welfare and Development Unit (WDU) at BJMP-Davao, said any PDL who wishes to avail of a scholarship will only need to approach them and relay their intention. They will then endorse their names to Tesda, which is their partner for the PDLs’ scholarship program.
PDLs’ livelihood program
During the implementation of strict community quarantine due to Covid-19 where people were mostly confined in their homes, the BJMP-Davao’s Welfare and Development Division, headed by Jail Senior Inspector Ellen Rose S. Garcia, looked for ideas to cash in on the trend of the season to help the PDLs become productive and income-generating.
Since ornamental plants and gardening became the social media trend during lockdowns, Garcia along with Davao City Jail Annex Jail Chief Inspector Carlos G. Lanzuela, jail warden, brought up the idea of making decorative metal plant holders to the PDLs.
The PDLs readily supported the plan because they knew this is the way to unburden their families back home.
“Now, more than ever, almost everyone is economically struggling, this is our PDLs’ way of being financially independent where they don't need to ask for money from their families outside,” she said.
For Asentista, this is a very welcome project to relieve his family from his regular, albeit petty, financial demand.
“Makatabang kayo siya sa amoa unya na-enhance pud among gieskwelahan sa Tesda. Pangit man paminawon nga nakatabang ang pandemya sa amoa, pero dako gyud kini nga tabang kaysa maglingkod-lingkod ra mi diri niining panahon sa pandemya, he said.
(This project really helped us and it also enhanced what we have learned at Tesda, although it’s not good to hear that the pandemic really helps too, but it is during this time of pandemic that brought this initiative of producing handcrafted metal plant holders than just sitting here and wait for the pandemic to be over.)
Aside from mainly helping the PDLs become self-sustaining, the livelihood projects are also part of the BJMP’s rehabilitation program for the PDLs so that when they go out of the world they are in, they can apply the livelihood training and become productive citizens.
“Kung dili sila gusto mangempleyo pwede nila i-apply ilang nakat-unan diri sa sulod ug mukita gihapon sa maayong pamaagi (if they don’t want to be employed then they can apply what they have learned here and generate income in a clean way),” Nadias said.
In this way, they can become entrepreneurs who may employ other individuals who need jobs, and instead of becoming a liability to society, become an asset.
The beneficiaries
In selecting the workers for the BJMP’s livelihood program, a PDL needs to have completed Tesda training to ensure that the finished products are of high-quality and competitive against the mainstream market. Formal training is also required for the safety of the PDLs who will do works that entail dangerous or fragile equipment and/or method.
In this project, however, PDLs who have completed NC-II welding training from Tesda were selected. Those who have skills in painting metal were also “hired.”
Garcia said around 20 skilled PDLs from Davao City Jail Annex benefited from the livelihood program.
Nadias, however, added that if the demand for their handcrafted metal products increases, they will also increase the number of workers.
“If more PDLs want to join, they have to undergo Tesda training,” Garcia said.
Asentista finished 200 hours of welding training at Tesda as a scholar.
Income sharing
With the BJMP-Davao WDU’s limited seed funding, they started purchasing basic needs and raw materials for handcraft metal projects for the PDLs. The project entails some expensive tools needed for metal handcrafting, which saw the budget lacking. Luckily, their jail warden extended help and lent the amount the unit needed, which the unit and the PDLs assured will be returned immediately after the products are sold.
Their arrangement is that when products are sold, they will secure first the capital expenditures and return it to BJMP so that the program will be sustained even when the trend on ornamental plants has died. If and when there would be no more demand for their current products, they still have seed capital for another project.
They will also pay their debts to anyone who lent them money to pursue their project and, in this case, to their jail warden, Lanzuela. The remaining amount will be divided equally among the PDL workers.
“The BJMP does not receive any monetary compensation for these products,” Garcia said.
For Asentista, he has no complaints about the income-sharing rule for their livelihood project because the BJMP is very transparent with the cash-flow and makes sure that every amount is accounted for.
“Okay kaayo ang division sa ginansya kay equally divided man (the division of the profit is equally divided so it’s very good),” he said.
The market and the product
Since the PDLs heavily rely on the internet to find potential buyers for their products, demands are not that big yet, especially when the handcrafted metal plant holder project is still a few weeks old. Fortunately, more orders are coming in, both from new as well as repeat customers.
“The reception has been overwhelming and PDL workers are very much happy for the satisfied feedback,” Garcia said.
To date, 21 pieces of iron bicycle plant stand and 18 pieces of iron spiral staircase have been sold.
“Our products are posted on the BJMPRO-11 Official web page, the majority of our customers just saw our posting online,” Garcia said.
Nadias added they are also relying on the word of mouth of their customers. Testimonies on how beautifully made their handcrafted metal plant holders have also helped in marketing the products and sustaining the project.
He said their products are specially labeled with a sticker that reads “Handcrafted by PDL from BJMP-R11” to emphasize that the products the PDLs have made are specially built from the heart and not just manufactured mechanically.
This is also to instill in the PDLs that BJMP-Davao is proud of its products.
“As long as there is a demand for our handcrafted products, our facility will continuously produce the same,” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, Asentista happily shared that they are on their way to mass-producing metal plant holders as more orders are coming in. He hopes that one day, he will not only stop asking money from his family but will be able to send money to them as well.
He is asking the public’s support, especially since the sustainability of this project depends on the demand.
“Ila untang itangkilik among produkto kay ang pagkahimo ani kay from the heart, (I hope they will patronize our products because we handcrafted these from the heart),” Asentista said.
***
Those who are interested to know the products’ respective prices are advised to private message BJMP’s Facebook page at Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region XI or visit its office at BJMP Compound, Maa, Davao City. They may also call them at telephone number: (082) 244-0928.