TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) together with the Prison Fellowship International Philippine (PFIP) inaugurated the “Bread of Hope Bakery,” a project that could provide livelihood income for inmates at the Tacloban City Jail (TCJ) on June 3. Silvestre Alforque, PFIP president, said that this is the first time a project like this was implemented in the region. “This will not only help our inmates in the holistic approach on rehabilitation but including their families,” said Alforque. He said that the undertaking will be of big help to the inmates once they are released from the jail facility considering that they are now equipped with skills which they could use to earn income. Alforque said that they could see the project will become self-sustaining in three months after its launching. The Swiss Solidarity funds the project. Alforque added that they want to provide dignity to the inmates by teaching them skills on livelihood training instead of giving them dole- outs. Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, who was among those who witnessed the opening and the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the BJMP and PFIP, the Bread of Hope Bakery would not only provide food for the inmates but also provide them the bread of God’s grace. “I hope that in this therapeutic community you will find hope and the real bread of life who is Jesus Christ,” Yaokasin said. Jail Superintendent Elmer Riel, assistant regional director for administration of BJMP, said that he project fulfilled his dream when he was still the warden of the jail facility. “I support this project when this was presented to me but there were problems that hampered for its implementation that included the physical structure of the jail; the emotional well-being of the inmates and looking for fund for the project,” Riel explained. “I did not expect for this to materialize. I am very thankful to the PFPI for helping the jail management to look for funding for this project,” he added. He urged the inmates to support the TCJ officials to ensure the success of the project (ROEL T. AMAZONA)