TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture(DA) in the region has partnered with the Department of Justice – Parole and Probation Administration (DOJ-PPA-8) to support the “Kusina ni Kawil” program, an initiative that empowers former persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) through skill-building, livelihood, and community reintegration.
DOJ-PPA Regional Director Ma. Beverly Ampo, together with OIC-Assistant Regional Director Renato Espiritu and chief probation and parole officer Raul Mercado, met with DA OIC-Regional Executive Director Rodel Macapañas to explore ways to ensure the sustainability of the program in Eastern Visayas.
“Kusina ni Kawil,” which translates to “Kitchen of the Fishhook,” is managed by rehabilitated former PDLs. The initiative provides affordable and nutritious meals to the public while giving participants hands-on opportunities to develop culinary and entrepreneurial skills, promoting productive community engagement and restorative justice.
As part of the initial support, DA’s High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) delivered 20 packs each of vegetable seeds, including okra, sitao, kangkong, tomato, and pechay, to help sustain the kitchen’s food requirements.
The program’s name, “Kawil” or fishhook, is inspired by the biblical idea of being “fishers of men,” symbolizing guidance, transformation, and the DOJ-PPA’s mandate to reintegrate former offenders into society.
Kusina ni Kawil operates at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan compound along Magsaysay Boulevard in Tacloban City and is open to the public.
Officials emphasized that the partnership highlights the importance of inter-agency collaboration in promoting food security, livelihood support, and the rehabilitation of former PDLs across the region.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
