IN the Philippines, a defendant whose case is still being heard in court but does not have enough money fails to post bail for his temporary liberty. Very often, he lands in jail. It is like the end of the world for a newcomer jailbird.
But surprisingly, inmates hosted by the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Jail at the capital town of Bayombong claim that life behind bars is more boon than bane.
At present, there are 149 detainees locked up in the provincial jail: 110 male, 17 women, 21 male minors and one female minor offender.
To keep them productive, the management of the provincial jail has developed livelihood programs that keep the inmates productive behind bars.
“The office of the provincial governor provides funds that finance the livelihood projects of the inmates that we manage,” said Ret. Col. Fernando Pasion, Nueva Vizcaya provincial warden.
Handicraft-making using recycled raw materials dominates the cottage industry developed by the inmates themselves. The skilled ones spearhead the production of handicrafts that provides hands-on training for the neophytes.
Supplied from the different departments of the provincial government, newspapers are recycled into different handicrafts like paper machete jars, baskets, trays, flower vases, pen holders and more creative designs crafted by female inmates.
Picture frames, wooden desks, plates, baskets and rattan trays and other home décors are done by male inmates.
Thousands of hand-held lighted lanterns have been assembled by the inmates for participants to the recently concluded Lantern Parade launched by the capital town of Bayombong as an entry to the Guinness World Records 2015. This was done on December 3.
“The recycling process being done by the inmates in their handicraft production is a very appropriate application of our provincial solid waste-management program,” Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Ruth Raña-Padilla said.
The lady governor proudly informed this journalist that she had a BusinessMirror Regions Supplement, titled “A Taste of Nueva Vizcaya’s Golden Harvest,” framed by an inmate and displayed in her office at the provincial capitol.
Incidentally, another sequel of Regions Sunday Supplement, “An Off-road Expedition to Nueva Vizcaya Highlands,” was requested to be framed by Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Information Officer Gene Basilio Jr. and displayed also in his office.
Because of the quality output of their products, continuous demand for varieties of inmate-crafted handicrafts escalates daily. Most orders come from the 15 towns of the province.
“Their being incarcerated here does not prevent them from earning a living. Instead, they can even use their incomes to support their families back home,” Pasion said.
Minus the capital provided by the jail management, an inmate gets 95 percent of the net proceeds from items sold that he made.
A few months before the onset of the holiday season, inmates start producing holiday-themed handicraft items from Christmas décors to gift items.
The last quarter of the year is said to be the most lucrative season for the inmates as they engage in the production of Christmas décors made from recycled soft-drink bottles. At press time, a giant Christmas tree covered with corn husk is scheduled to be lighted on December 16 this year.
“The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ Waste Hierarchy plays significantly as a constant reminder and guideline in the overall management of our solid wastes which is tightly observed by inmates at the provincial jail,” Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said.
The biodegradable waste materials are decomposed as organic fertilizer for the vegetables grown on the jail’s backyard.
Pasion said the inmates do not only earn from their vegetable plots, but provide them with organically grown vegetables free from chemical fertilizers and pesticide.
For Christmas and New Year celebrations when both occasions require a lot of food preparations, the vegetable garden provides them healthy food served during the holidays.
Six religious groups alternately offer evangelical services to the inmates. An ongoing sports fest and indoor games keep the detainees physically and mentally fit.
Alternative Learning System is offered to qualified inmates to upgrade their educational status.
Since the inmates are not yet convicted of the crimes charged against them, they are given the chance to prepare for their future once they win their case and leave jail.
“After their productive stay here, many inmates find it more safe and lucrative behind bars than the outside world where they have committed the charges against them, that some do not really care if they prolong their stay inside their cells,” Pasion said.
The good conduct time allowance is a system developed by the jail management to evaluate detainees’ behavior that may eventually lessen their jail terms.
“Our ultimate objective is to get our inmates totally rehabilitated: That they could apply the skills they learned productively behind bars not only in their respective homes, but share their earned talents in their respective communities,” Pasion said.
Image credits: Leonardo Perante II