The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday expressed gratitude to San Miguel Corporation (SMC) chairman and CEO Ramon Ang for his significant support, which enabled more than 1,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to complete their college education.

BuCor director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. specifically thanked Ang and his daughter, Cecile Ang, who heads the SMC Foundation, for their ongoing generosity. Their contributions of learning materials and equipment have significantly improved educational opportunities for inmates in the minimum-security compound.

Speaking at the turnover ceremony of a newly renovated college building, Catapang emphasized the importance of a comfortable and supportive learning environment for PDLs working to rehabilitate their lives.

He also lauded the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, a long-standing partner in educating PDLs since the 1980s, for its vital role in inmate rehabilitation. Sandiganbayan Justice Karl Miranda was also recognized for his dedication to teaching PDL college students, highlighting the collaborative nature of the program.

Cecile Ang expressed the SMC Foundation’s enthusiasm for the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to education and social responsibility. She expressed hope that the visible improvements, such as the school’s renovation, would inspire PDLs to believe in their potential for change.

“This transformation, like the renovation of the school buildings, will serve as a guide and a new beginning for us to believe that we can change our lives,” Ang said. She also shared a personal lesson from her father, an orphan, emphasizing that discipline and hard work can lead to success.

Justice Miranda underscored that the program’s primary goal is to prepare PDLs for a smooth reintegration into society upon their release.

Beyond its P50 million investment in educational facilities, the SMC Foundation also began fulfilling Ramon Ang’s P100 million food donation pledge last year, a commitment to be distributed over three years.