Mandaue City Jail set to launch ‘College Behind Bars’ program

Local

MANDAUE City inmates will soon have the chance to earn a college degree while in detention.

The city’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities are preparing to launch a “College Behind Bars” program, giving persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) the opportunity to study and develop skills during their sentences.

Jail Supt. Jessie James Gingoyon said dedicated learning spaces will be constructed inside both the male and female dormitories so that all academic activities take place within the jail.

“Hopefully by 2026, we can already offer college education inside the facility,” Gingoyon said.

He emphasized that imprisonment should focus on rehabilitation rather than mere punishment.

By integrating classrooms and alternative learning centers inside the jail, the program aims to help PDLs acquire education and skills that can support their reintegration into society after release.

Gingoyon added that the initiative is being prioritized in coordination with Sr. Insp. Roselle Paracale, head of the female dormitory.

Partnerships with Mandaue City College are being formalized through a memorandum of agreement to ensure that courses and academic resources meet proper standards.

Once the college curriculum is fully implemented, PDLs who have completed senior high school will be eligible to enroll. Courses in Business Management and Information Technology are being considered, targeting fields that could improve employment opportunities for inmates upon their release.

The Mandaue City local government is providing full support to ensure that the program is implemented entirely within the jail facility, reflecting a commitment to rehabilitation while keeping inmates in a secure environment.

In addition to academics, PDLs participate in livelihood programs conducted inside the jail, such as bread and pastry production, crafts making, painting, bonsai growing, and wood carving.

Gingoyon highlighted the jail’s personalized PVC lamps, made by inmates and unique to Mandaue BJMP, which are consistently sold out. Proceeds from these activities directly benefit the PDLs.

Through education and livelihood programs conducted entirely within the jail, the BJMP–Mandaue aims to transform its facilities into spaces of learning and personal growth, preparing inmates for productive lives after serving their sentences.(MyTVCebu)