The Catholic community in the Philippines marked the conclusion of the National Correctional Consciousness Week with a call to listen to the concerns of persons deprived of liberty.

"Prison awareness is a time to listen to the needs of our PDL brothers and sisters. Listening to them will bring us to the awareness of their deepest need," Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care Executive Secretary Fr. Nezelle Lirio said in a written statement issued on Sunday.

The 37th celebration of "Prison Awareness Sunday" on 30 October seeks to promote awareness on the plight of PDLs across the country.

With the theme "Towards a Listening, Healing and Loving Correctional Community," the CBCP-ECPPC emphasizes the importance of bringing love and care to PDLs as humans that seek reformation.

"May we understand that what they need is not a negative judgment that will forever imprison them to the stigma of their incarceration. What these PDLs need are understanding and respect for them as human beings, a suitable place for correction and reformation, and a justice system that is centered on rehabilitation," CBCP-ECPPC Chairman and Legazpi Bishop Joel Z. Baylon said.

"Prison Awareness Sunday'"is being observed alongside the government's celebration of National Correctional Consciousness Week from 24 to 30 October, which aims to promote humane services to PDLs and to acknowledge the work of correctional officers, as mandated in Proclamation No. 551, series of 1995.