A total of 91 Inmates/Trainees and 14 Beneficiaries/Families of Inmates of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region 7 (BJMP 7) are recipients to the SkillsTraining Program by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Region 7 (TESDA R7). The awarding of Scholarship Commitment was done during the launching of TESDA’s Skills Training Program for Inmates at Cebu City Jail-Male Dormitory, Brgy. Kalunasan, Cebu City last March 7, 2017. Dubbed as Integration through Skills Development Project for Inmates and Families: “Reproma sa Piitan, Hatid ng TESDA ay Kaalaman”.

Present during the launching is TESDA Deputy Director General for TESD Operations, DDG Alvin Feliciano, BJMP Chief JDir. Serafin P. Barretto Jr., CESO IV, CSS, BJMP Deputy Director JSSupt. Amado A. Concepcion, Jr., BJMP R7 Regional Director JSSupt. Dennis U. Rocamora, CESE, Cebu City Jail-Male Dorm Warden JSupt. Jessie O. Calumpang, TESDA 7 Regional Director Florencio F. Sunico Jr., CESO III, TESDA PO-Cebu Provincial Director, Engr. Mark Anthony N. Ylanan, Inmates/Trainees, Families/Beneficiaries of Inmates, BJMP and TESDA Personnels.

RD Florencio F. Sunico presented TESDA’s 17-point Reform and Development Agenda of Sec. Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong giving priority to Skills Training Program for Inmates and their Families in support to the Development Agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The 91 Inmates/Trainees will take up Automotive Servicing NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Masonry NC II and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II.

BJMP Chief Serafin P. Barretto Jr., advised the inmates/trainees to use the skills they will acquire to improve their lives and not to go back to their old ways.

In his message, TESDA DDG Alvin Feliciano stressed that TESDAs program for inmates and their families not only focuses on training but will give them opportunities for employment or go into entrepreneurship. This will be made possible with TESDAs tie up with DOLE, DTI and DSWD, who will provide other assistance such as employment, livelihood and financial capitalization for business.

This Skills Training Program for Inmates is a fulfillment of the Memorandum of Agreement signed by TESDA and BJMP last December 6, 2016 which aims to provide interventions through skills development by equipping them with skills to uplift their economic status and facilitate reintegration to their respective communities.