THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Davao (BJMP-Davao) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Davao (Tesda-Davao) have signed a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) to further facilitate more training inside the Davao City Jail.
In an interview during the inauguration of new alternative learning system (ALS) classrooms, and livelihood area last August 25, 2023, JCInsp. Erwin Eden, warden of Davao City Jail-Annex said that the training is a great help for holistic development and provides economic assistance to the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
"Continuous na po itong ALS na programa. Marami pong trainings ang ipapasok ng BJMP-Tesda regionwide especially here in Davao City Jail-Annex (The ALS has been a continuous program. BJMP-Tesda-Davao will be conducting a lot of training here in Davao City Jail-Annex),” he said.
According to Jail Officer III Joy Mamoko, ALS Instructional Manager of City Jail Annex, they are eyeing to save every individual of these marginalized sectors by giving them a free academic opportunity.
"Una natong tanawon is ilahang mga edad [and] dapat katong mga out-of-school youth o katong mga transferees and katong mga nangundang na gyud sila, so isa na sya na ato silang i-save aron ma continue ilahang education (We will look at their ages [and] those who are out-of-school youth, transferees, and those who have really dropped out. We will save them to continue their education),” she said.
The Davao City Jail Annex is set to offer the Senior High School program this year which will prioritize PDLs who graduated junior high school last 2022.
Based on their recent data, more than 40 PDLs are currently enrolled in their Elementary program, while around 50 students in their Junior High School program.
The City Jail facility also offers tertiary education through the College Education Behind Bars to cater to PDLs who wish to pursue college and receive a four-year diploma.
As of 2023, the Davao City Jail-Annex located in Maa has a total population of 900 PDLs mainly composed of Persons with Disability (PWD) and members of the LGBTQ community.
It can be recalled that the new Davao City mega jail facility that lies within an eight-hectare property in Barangay Wangan in Calinan District is still under construction and can accommodate 5,000 PDLs.
Jail Senior Inspector Ellen Saragena, chief Community Relations Section of the BJPM-Davao, said that the new city jail has no water and power connections. However, they are planning to make it a self-sustaining jail since only two hectares of the 8-hectare property is currently being utilized. DEF