The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be training at least 20 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on urban farming and agripreneurship.
“This is voluntary for those who would like to avail of the training. This would run for five days, and tentatively set to start on September 30,” TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña told the Philippine News Agency on Monday.
Initially, 5,000 square meters were allotted for this project, but Lapeña said the Bureau of Corrections has allocated 2.5 hectares of land that can be developed.
“This is not the first time that TESDA is providing training for the inmates. In 2015, TESDA MUNTIPARLASTAPAT (Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Taguig, Pateros) conducted training for the inmates,” he said.
According to TESDA, the agency has signed a partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Bureau of Corrections last September 15 for the “Bagong Buhay sa Gulay” project.
The initiative aims to help uplift the inmates’ economic status and facilitate reintegration into their respective communities.
DA and DAR will provide quality seeds, planting materials, and other inputs.
The training that TESDA will provide will also enable the inmates to grow their own food source.
TESDA added that the Regional Training Center- National Capital Region (RTC-NCR) will also train the Bureau of Correction employees in Agricultural Crops Production NC II for them to become certified trainers. (PNA)
