On Tuesday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) launched an initiative to enhance rehabilitation programs for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in selected jails. The program aims to establish libraries and incorporate reading activities to provide learning opportunities for PDLs, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

“Read Your Way Out: Advancing Prison Reform through Libraries for Lifelong Learning in Places of Detention,” the initiative offers a Time Allowance for Study, Teaching, and Mentoring (TASTM) to encourage PDLs to engage in reading activities. The program aims to reduce sentences, facilitate early release, and promote rehabilitation through education and vocational skills.

A technical working group (TWG), composed of officials from the BJMP and the UNODC, has been established. The TWG also includes representatives from the National Library of the Philippines, who provide technical expertise in library management.

The TWG has identified 13 jails that will be provided with books and the necessary equipment to build their libraries. The jail libraries will comprise various resources, including legal, vocational, fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books for family visitors. The program promotes the personal development, well-being, and rehabilitation of PDLs.

The “Read Your Way Out” program is a significant step towards prison reform in the Philippines. By incorporating reading activities and establishing libraries in selected jails, the BJMP and UNODC provide PDLs with valuable learning opportunities. The TASTM initiative aims to reduce sentences and facilitate early release, promoting a more effective and humane approach to incarceration.