To formally seal the partnership between the College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on April 19, 2023, at the BJMP Female Dormitory, Brgy. Baras-Baras, Tarlac City. In addition, another seminar and outreach activity were conducted with skills training to help the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) gain new knowledge and skills that will be beneficial to them.
Hiraya: Ang Panimula is an introductory outreach activity and skills training for the CPAG’s long-term project entitled "Hiraya: Isang Landas Pasulong (A Path Forward)". This activity aims to give a glimpse of what can be expected with the upcoming long-term project of the college.
Given that CPAG is a constant visitor to the bureau and that whenever they visit, all good things happen. The college is like a ray of light for the PDLs—a symbol of hope, a second chance, and a new beginning, just like the meaning of hiraya. And true to their words, CPAG once again conducted an outreach activity and skills training that aim to help them with their everyday lives and equip them with knowledge on how to take care of themselves even behind bars. Moreover, this day is not just an ordinary day that the college will visit and conduct an activity, it is because they came up with the memorandum of agreement to finally adopt their community for their long-term project. The project Hiraya was introduced, and an overview was provided to the beneficiaries headed by JSUPT EMILY E BUENO thru the effort of JSINSP JESSICA M CORPUZ and to the TSU officials headed by President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco, by none other than the project head, Mr. Jaylord M. Bernabe. After the exchange of inspirational messages and pleasantries, the MOA has been signed.
After the MOA signing, a seminar on hygiene, health, and wellness was conducted. Dr. Ethel V. Cornes, as the resource speaker, talks about how hygiene and health go hand in hand and how they impact one another. She mentioned that you cannot have good health without having good hygiene. She mentioned some of the tips and things one must do for good hygiene that contribute to good health and eventually wellness. Wellness includes not just physical health but also mental and social health. Dr. Cornes also talks about stress and how to manage it to have good mental health.
With the help of the MPA students, the college faculty and staff facilitated recreational activities after the seminar. The venue was once again filled with joy and laughter. Then the skills training activity was held. The college invited hairdressers from Bamban to teach the PDLs the basic skills and knowledge of haircutting. Aside from this, they also provide haircutting services to our PDLs and interested participants in the event. And to end the activity, Dr. Caoleng led the distribution of donations after her closing remarks. Lastly, BJMP officials awarded the certificate of appreciation to all faculty, staff, and resource speakers for the activity.
The completed extension activity generally supports the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 4: Quality Education, especially in light of increasing awareness for one wellness and promoting good hygiene for good health and equipping them with skills that will be beneficial to them.
