TACLOBAN CITY — Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Maasin City Jail will soon have new opportunities to learn skills and earn a livelihood, following a partnership between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Southern Leyte and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The collaboration, formalized through an agreement signed during the fourth quarter 2025 meeting of the Southern Leyte Provincial Science, Technology, and Innovation Council, brings science- and technology-based livelihood and training programs to the jail under DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program.
DOST Southern Leyte Provincial Director Ramil Uy said the initiative is designed to help PDLs make productive use of their time in custody while preparing them for life beyond jail.
The program also aims to support their families and communities by building practical skills that can translate into income-generating activities.
One of the key projects under the partnership is the establishment of a small-scale bakery inside the Maasin City Jail. With basic equipment and hands-on training, participating PDLs will learn baking skills that can provide livelihood opportunities during detention and after release.
Beyond livelihood, the program also focuses on learning and personal development. It includes the improvement of workspaces, additional technical skills training, and access to STARBOOKS, DOST’s offline digital library that offers a wide range of science and technology resources.
DOST said the initiative reflects its continuing effort to make science and innovation accessible to all sectors, including marginalized communities, and to support inclusive and sustainable development across Southern Leyte.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
