Iligan City Jail marks Public Library Day with book donation

Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory (ICJMD) celebrated Public Library Day on Sunday, 9 March, marking the occasion with a special book donation from the Iligan City Library. The donation supports the jail’s educational and rehabilitation efforts through its "Read Your Way Out" (RYWO) project, which partners with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The RYWO initiative aims to promote personal development among Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) by providing accessible learning opportunities. It has led to the creation of Reading Corners in all 35 dormitories, allowing PDL to access educational materials at any time.

This effort supplements the main jail library, overcoming space constraints and ensuring a broader reach for educational resources.

From May to December 2024, 487 PDL earned Time Allowance for Studying, Teaching, and Mentoring (TASTM) credits through library activities, a significant increase of 771 percent in monthly averages compared to earlier periods.

In January 2025, 239 PDL earned TASTM credits, reflecting an 82 percent rise from the previous month.

Jail warden JCINSP Carmelo A. Corsame expressed gratitude for the Iligan City Library’s ongoing support. “This donation strengthens our mission to promote education and rehabilitation among PDL. Books represent hope, knowledge, and a path to a brighter future,” he said.

Corsame also highlighted the jail’s ongoing book drive to further enhance its library resources.