One hundred persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Bansud District Jail in Oriental Mindoro are set to benefit from the second phase of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Worker (TUPAD) program, a government initiative from the Department of Labor and Employment.

The PDLs have been selected for this program to receive temporary emergency employment, with the aim of providing them financial assistance while also equipping them with skills that will aid them in securing sustainable livelihoods upon their eventual release.

BJMP Mimaropa information officer Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo explained that, unlike the usual tasks assigned to other TUPAD beneficiaries, such as community improvement and infrastructure projects, the PDLs in this program will focus on learning skills such as table skirting and napkin folding, which can open opportunities for them in the hospitality industry or similar fields.

“The BJMP has been dedicated to ensuring the success of the government’s emergency employment program in the region. This program not only offers PDLs immediate financial relief, but it also equips them with essential skills that can support them in finding sustainable employment after their release,” he said.