Tarlac State University and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Tarlac will offer a Bachelor of Public Administration to selected female persons deprived of liberty under a memorandum of agreement signed last July 24, 2024 at the Tarlac City Jail Female Dormitory in Baras-Baras, Tarlac City.
Twenty-seven female PDLs will be given the opportunity to complete their college education within the confines of the correctional facility free of charge through the extension program of the College of Public Administration and Governance, "Karunungan sa Kulungan para sa Kinabukasan (KKK): Empowering Change through Correctional Facility Education Program."
CPAG faculty members will be teaching general education and major subjects, following a curriculum design almost the same as the university’s course offerings. The PDL students will receive a diploma upon completion of the degree.
Moreover, their classes are synchronized with the university's academic calendar.
BJMP Region III Director Jail Chief Superintendent Paulino H. Moreno Jr. thanked the university for this partnership that will give the female PDLs a chance to exercise their right to education and acquire fundamental tools to reshape their lives.
“Through this program, we aim to break the cycle of the re-offending. Ito ang magbibigay solusyon sa tinatawag na mga 'balikbayan' sa loob ng piitan. Marahil ito naman ay dahil wala silang trabaho o kapamilya na mauuwian kaya balik sa dating gawi,” he said.
“Ang pagbibigay edukasyon, sapat na kaalaman, kakayahan, at kasanayang pangkabuhayan [will] empower the PDLs with knowledge and skills that [will] foster the environment of continuous learning and personal development which will prepare them to face the challenges upon release,” he continued.
Moreover, TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco commended CPAG through the leadership of Dr. Edwin T. Caoleng, college dean.
“I do consider this as the noblest–pinakamaganda sa mga extension services na binigay namin mula sa mga colleges… We are very happy. Bagama’t nasa kulungan po kayo ay napakapalad po at nabigyan kayo ng pagkakataon,” Pres. Velasco said.
“Huwag niyo pong kakalimutan na ito po ay binigay sa inyo ng Diyos para maging way po ninyo na magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan. Ang matututunan po ninyo ay eventually – ito po ang magli-lead sa atin ng panibagong pagasa; kinabukasan not only for us pero higit sa lahat sa mga pamilya natin,” he added.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg echoed the president’s message and encouraged the female PDLs involved in the program.
“Kayo po ang kauna-unahang beneficiaries ng programang ito na nagmula po sa ating kolehiyo… Paglabas niyo po dala-dala niyo 'yung diplomang iyon at mayroong opportunity na nagaantay po sa inyo sa labas. Alam po natin, sociologically speaking, na mayroong mga naging pangyayari sa buhay natin na hindi niyo kagustuhan pero nangyari. Kaya po ganun na lamang ang naisip na programa ng ating kolehiyo na ito ay dalhin mismo dito sa loob. Para tunay nga po na kayo din ay magdadala ng pagbabago paglabas niyo dito sa BJMP,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dean Caoleng thanked BJMP Tarlac and the female PDLs for the opportunity to help.
“Hindi po natatapos ang kinabukasan ninyo dito sa loob, bagkus dito po magsisimula ang pagbabago. Kaya kami po sa TSU ay nagpapasalamat po. Lagi ko pong sinasabi na huwag niyo po kaming pasalamatan, kasi kami po ang nagpapasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon para makatulong po sa inyo para mabago po ang buhay ninyo,” he said.
Among those in attendance during the MOA signing are Chief Operations Division Tarlac Jail Provincial Administration JSUPT Emily E. Bueno, Welfare and Development Region III Chief JCINSP Delight M. Ercilla, and Acting City Jail Warden JSINSP Jessica M. Corpuz
This program is under CPAG’s long-term extension project "Hiraya: Isang Landas Pasulong," which aims to capacitate the BJMP personnel with skills and knowledge in governance that would benefit the PDLs under the custody of the Tarlac City Jail Female Dormitory. (jlmm-OPA)
Photos by Eduardo F. Laxamana Jr.
