PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) plans to harvest agricultural products amounting to P6M starting in December after the initial phase of the Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security (RISE) Project.
Information Officer CTO II Levi Evangelista said that the penal prison is now harvesting vegetables and unhusked rice, or palay, after the planting season in August. Around 300 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are engaged in planting, and some of them were part of the transferees under medium security from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“It has a big impact on agricultural production of IPPF that has never (been) attained by this institution to produce such (an) abundant harvest. Ito ay dahil (sa) suportang ipinagkaloob ng private sector na nagprovide ng seedlings and technical knowledge sa ating mga PDL sa pagtatanim,” he said.
The program is a collaborative effort of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) that aims to provide effective programs for the reformation of PDLs and to ensure food security.
Some of the PDLs involved in farming showcase their harvest during the inaugural harvest ceremony. (Photo by Levi Evangelista/ IPPF)
The harvested products will be sold outside IPPF to compensate for the efforts of PDLs and increase the agricultural fund of the penal prison, Evangelista said. There is also a Kadiwa store located at Junction 1, showcasing affordable products from IPPF.
A wider area will be used in Phase 2 of the project to utilize penal IPPF’s idle land. Additional projects will include a fishpond and strengthened livestock production.
“Malaking bagay din ang naidulot nito sa mga PDL na kung saan kabahagi sila mula sa pagtatanim, pag-aalaga nito. Sila ay dumaan din sa seminar at training bago magtanim,” he said.
The inaugural harvest last Tuesday, December 5, was personally attended by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang, Jr., Dr. Gerald Glenn Panganiban, Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, City Agriculturist Melissa Macasaet, and some representatives from the private sector partners. (RG/PIA Mimaropa – Palawan)
*Banner photo courtesy of Levi Evangelista/ IPPF
