Getting locked up in a prison cell is difficult to bear.
From sunrise to sundown, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are limited in the confines of the prison’s concrete walls—stripped of the basic luxuries of life and isolated from the rest of society.
On some days, PDLs find themselves staring at the blank wall, feeling remorseful for their past actions and pondering what could have been if they had followed the lawful path.
Another thought lingers: “After this, what is next for me?”
While incarcerated individuals might think nothing bright awaits them in the outside world, the government is keen on preparing them for their reintegration into society.
In Antique, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the University of Antique (UA), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) launched “Project HOPE” to help address such concerns of PDLs.
Project HOPE, or Holistic Opportunities and People’s Empowerment, intends to provide persons deprived of liberty at the San Jose District Jail with an opportunity to earn a college diploma.
Funded and supported by DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST), Project HOPE enables PDLs to pursue a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship through UA’s ladderized education program, in support of BJMP’s College Education Behind Bars (CEBB).
Eighteen PDLs who passed the university’s entrance examination comprise the first batch of students for Project HOPE who will receive lectures in a blended learning setup.
To ensure maximum learning and comfort during classes, an air-conditioned educational center equipped with facilities such as a flat-screen television, two desktop computers, and other learning materials has been made available for the use of PDLs.
Faculty members from the UA also pledged more than just teaching roles but life coach functions for their PDL students, recognizing the need to help them build a vision for themselves.
According to UA President Pablo Crespo Jr., the Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship is only the first of the many degree programs they will offer to give future students an array of options, enabling them to pursue the field of studies they truly desire.
Senator Loren Legarda, in her keynote speech during Project HOPE’s launch, expressed optimism in the power of education to turn PDLs into citizens who uphold the law and contribute to nation-building.
“I hope that upon your return to the community, you will become an important part of our collective effort to build a progressive society that is truly compassionate and equitable,” she said.
The Senator then enjoined the PDLs to seize the opportunity to study to help them improve themselves, straighten out their lives, and pursue their dreams.
For his part, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, who also graced the launching activity, stressed the agency’s commitment to supporting PDLs toward a good future.
“In current and future opportunities, I want to convey to you that despite your present situation, you can still dream and strive to improve your future,” Solidum said.
Apart from college education for the PDLs, Project HOPE also brings science and technology (S&T) interventions on livelihood development, human resource development, health and nutrition, and disaster risk reduction and management, among others.
Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are usually labeled as “scourges of society,” but the government abandons no Filipino and is eager to transform PDLs into productive citizens, willing to contribute to building a safer and more progressive Philippines.
This pertains especially to prisoners and detainees who were also victims of tragic circumstances and whose time spent in jail could be harsh, depressing, and grueling.
But just as they thought nothing bright could flourish out of their current situation, persons deprived of liberty at the San Jose District Jail find HOPE behind bars—a second chance at redeeming themselves for their families and their country. (AGP/BPS/PIA Antique)
