The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday announced that efforts to actually reform persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) received a huge boost from the refurbished college building and upgraded learning facilities provided by the San Miguel Foundation Inc. (SMF).
In a press release, the BuCor, in partnership with the SMF and the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta-Bilibid Extension School (UPHSD-BES), marked the turn-over of the newly renovated UPHSD-BES building at the Medium Security Camp-New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City, on Tuesday.
The newly refurbished building, courtesy of SMF, now boasts a modern computer lab, new school materials, and cozy seating accommodations to create an improved learning atmosphere for the PDLs.
These improvements were under the foundation's "Better World Bilibid" program, which is intended to equip the PDLs with the resources necessary to pursue their studies and personal growth while serving time.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. conveyed his sincerest gratitude to Ramon Ang, the chairman and chief executive officer of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), and his daughter, Cecile, who is the head of the SMF, SMC's corporate social responsibility group.
"Through San Miguel Foundation assistance, the transformation of the UPHSD-BES building symbolizes well the partnership of government and private agencies in propagating education as one of the essentials in rechanging and reintegrating PDLs," stated Catapang.
Aside from the PHP50-million funding for school infrastructure, the SMF has begun late last year the implementation of its PHP100 million worth of food pledge over three years that the SMC chair had pledged.
Meanwhile, Cecile Ang reiterated the commitment of the foundation to social causes such as education and environmental stewardship.
She expressed the hope that rehabilitative reforms paralleled by physical renovation of school structures would motivate PDLs to see that they might in fact remake themselves.
“Itong pagbabago na ito, katulad ng (This change, like the) transformation of school buildings ay maging gabay at maging simula ng paniniwala natin na kaya nating baguhin ang ating buhay (will be the guide and the impetus of our belief that we can change our lives for the better),” Ang said.
She said that what his father, an orphan, taught him is discipline, "na kung kayang pagbutihin ay may mararating (that if we do good, we will reach places)."
