CALAMBA CITY: The Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) is collaborating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to impart food processing know-how to 50 detainees in this province in anticipation of their eventual reintegration into society.
In an interview on Monday, Charles Andrew Reyes, a senior science specialist and program coordinator of PSTO-Laguna, said the program aims to equip persons deprived of liberty (PDL) with valuable livelihood skills that they can use to earn an honest living once they are released.
The PSTO represents the local office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Reyes said a batch consisting of 30 females and 20 males from detention facilities in the City of Santa Rosa City are currently being schooled by food experts from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños Institute of Food Science and Technology.
“This immersive experience is designed to equip them with practical skills that they can leverage upon reintegration into society,”
he explained, highlighting the program’s aim to foster self-sufficiency and confidence among the participants.
The curriculum covers a range of skills, including the processing of banana and cassava chips, from harvest to the final stages of preparation, the PTSO official added.
Further, the training encompasses essential lessons on hygiene and safety in food preparation.
Participants are educated on proper handling, cooking techniques, and storage practices, ensuring that they acquire not only technical skills but also a thorough understanding of food safety standards, he said.
“By providing comprehensive training and support, DOST-PSTO Laguna and BJMP are taking significant strides towards creating a more conducive and rehabilitative environment within the correctional system,” Reyes said.
Through initiatives like these, DOST-Calabarzon is not only imparting skills but also sowing the seeds of hope and resilience, ultimately contributing to the creation of a brighter future for all individuals, regardl
ess of their past, he said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
