Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – San Jose District will now be given a chance to earn their college degree and provided livelihood opportunities through the Holistic Opportunities and People’s Empowerment (HOPE) in BJMP San Jose under the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Program.
 
HOPE, which is spearheaded by University of Antique (UA) and funded the by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) VI, will provide technical, marketing, packaging and labeling assistance and other business operation support to PDLs. They may also earn their diploma and college degree through a ladderized education program provided by UA in support to the College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) program of BJMP.
 
Dr. Pablo S. Crespo Jr., stated that the project entails provision of equipment such as desktop computer, smart TV, projector, and printer that will aid them in finishing their degree.
 
“The classroom is really like a structural classroom nga may TV and everything, because after all if we will not treat them as our students, how can we give them diploma? This is not just like a summer class, this is actually a college degree, so we take this very seriously,” Dr. Crespo further stated.
 
Under this project, BJMP will also be provided Science and Technology interventions related to health and nutrition through the deployment of one RxBox and eight water filters, and the conduct of psychoeducation and meaning-making activities, and health meal planning. They will also undergo training on preservation and conservation of natural resources, disaster risk reduction, and management and climate change adaptation.
 
JInsp. Josue Ma R. Estorque extended his gratefulness for this project saying, “they are very happy kay they are longing for college behind bars and kung ma-pursue in the whole Philippines, tayo po ang pangalawa”.
 
The College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) program was first conceived by Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute (SETBI) in partnership with SETBI, the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) XI last 2017.
 
A pre-implementation meeting was conducted at the University’s Board Room and was attended by the representatives from DOST and BJMP, together with the UA top management, Executive Directors, and Deans. Also present through zoom were Engr. Eleazer Salvador T. Moscoso, Provincial Director of Antique Provincial Science and Technology Office, Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, DOST VI Regional Director, and Supt. Richard Servano, BJMP Provincial Administrator./IU