CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — More persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are expected to enroll in alternative education and other learning sessions, following the opening of a new classroom in Bansud District Jail in Oriental Mindoro.
The 42-square meter facility, named “Silid-Kulay ng Pagasa,” was funded through proceeds from a charity called the “Color Fun Run” held in October last year.
“This classroom will encourage more inmates to enroll in our alternative learning system next year,” said Senior Inspector Nelmar Malimata, the acting jail warden.
Currently, the facility houses 301 detainees, with 52 already enrolled in education programs – 29 in junior high school and 23 at elementary level.
“Education gives inmates a sense of purpose and helps prevent them from returning to crime,” Malimata said during the inauguration.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) requires all prison wardens to allocate space and time for education, with inmates attending classes for at least two hours per day, three to five days a week.
BJMP MIMAROPA Information Officer Joefrie Anglo said similar classrooms have been built in other BJMP facilities but could not immediately confirm as to how many of the 19 jails in the region have dedicated learning spaces.
Anglo said establishing classrooms and activity areas benefits both PDL learners and their teachers.
“By expanding educational access, we are reinforcing our commitment to leave no one behind and creating meaningful change in the lives of PDLs,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJMP chief Ruel Rivera recently conducted inspections of several jail facilities in the province of Occidental Mindoro, including jails in Mamburao, Sablayan, and San Jose.
The bureau reports progress in addressing overcrowding in the MIMAROPA region. The jail congestion rate has fallen to 169 percent as of January 2025, with 2,097 inmates now housed across 19 facilities in MIMAROPA. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro/Photos from BJMP MIMAROPA)
