29 October 2012
The first batch of detainees, who will soon undergo training, received their scholarship certificates on Monday at the launch of the BILIB I.T. program in Taguig City.
From their detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa at the Taguig City Jail, the inmates will get the chance to experience technical vocational education and training with the course of their choice.
"What we're giving the inmates are information technology and related courses, which are among the most in-demand skills nowadays. Once they leave jail, we hope that job opportunities will come in handy," Secretary Joel Villanueva, director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), said.
The distribution of the scholarship certificates was held during Monday’s launch of the program at the jail.
It coincided with the birthday of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, whose office helped fund the program together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Informatics, one of the country's leading information technology schools, will provide the training to the inmates.
Cayetano traditionally celebrates his birthday with the inmates. He was joined by Villanueva and wife, Lani Cayetano, Taguig mayor, during the event.
"My cause for the people in jail will continue each year as I get older," Cayetano, the Minority Leader in the Senate, said.
"With employable skills, we hope they will find new life when they leave detention, and never get back in jail again. Through this, we also help solve congestion of jails," he added.
BILIB I.T. is a computer training course for inmates of the city and selected jails in Metro Manila.
"In the coming months, we hope to spread the benefits to more inmates in selected jails in Metro Manila. The walls of prison should not deter their learning," Villanueva said.
He said the training will bring new hope to the detainees because they know they have the skills that can be their passport to employment opportunities once they leave jail.
"It provides the inmate something to focus on, and it's really a morale booster. They are accomplishing something they are proud of," Villanueva said.
The TESDA chief added that IT skills will make them employable in the labor market.
"Once they get out and find a decent job, we hope we would not see them in jail again. This breaks the cycle of recidivism," Villanueva said.
The program, he added, displayed the good partnership among TESDA, the local government unit and private institutions, such as Informatics, to push the agenda of technical vocational education and training.
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