QC, jail bureau provide women detainees skills training

According to a news release issued Thursday, the female detainees at the QC jail have in the past four years been taught how to make beads, rugs, soap and candles, how to bake bread and pastries, as well as housekeeping, “hilot”, and health and wellness. (PNA Photo)

MANILA, Aug. 10 – The Quezon City Social Services Development Department (SSDD) has partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in conducting livelihood skills training for female detainees.

According to a news release issued Thursday, the female detainees at the QC jail have in the past four years been taught how to make beads, rugs, soap and candles, how to bake bread and pastries, as well as housekeeping, “hilot”, and health and wellness.

QC Jail warden, Marie Rose Laguyo, said she has requested the SSDD to conduct the skills training every quarter.

“Ginagawa namin itong skills training para magkaroon sila ng mga skills na puwede nilang pagkakitaan paglabas nila at saka at the same time pantanggal ng boredom na rin. Yung mga produkto nila, binibili namin at ginagawa naming token sa mga event. Sa ganung paraan, nakakatulong din ito sa kanila (We’re holding the skills training so that the female inmates would have skills they could use to earn a living when they leave jail. At the same time, it alleviates boredom. We buy their products and use them as tokens for events as a way of helping them),” Laguyo said.

In 2012, the SSDD began its partnership with the BJMP female dormitory to integrate their livelihood programs for their inmates.

“Since 1988, nasa 135 batches na ang nag-graduate sa ilalim ng QC community-based training na accredited ng TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority). Nasa 300 ang mga estudyante bawat batch every quarter. So far, nalalampasan naman namin yung target namin na 25 percent employment. Base sa aming monitoring, umaabot ito ng 45 percent,” said SSDD manpower development officer, Jovencio Gabriel.

(“Since 1988, 135 batches have graduated under the QC community-based training that is accredited by TESDA. There are about 300 students per batch per quarter. We have so far exceeded our target of 25 percent employment. Based on our monitoring, this has reached 45 percent,” said Gabriel.)

The livelihood community-based program of Quezon City targets the youth, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disability, and inmates.

Aside from skills training for women detainees, the BJMP has conducted mass screening for tuberculosis and HIV, and quarterly pre-natal check-ups, in coordination with the QC health department.