Iligan institutionalizes P1.3-M ‘second chance’ program for PDLs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A person’s past should not dictate their future.

This principle took center stage in Iligan City on Thursday, October 29, as local officials and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) launched a P1.34-million comprehensive reintegration program to help former Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) successfully rejoin society.

Dubbed the Freedom Program Ordinance, the initiative was formally rolled out at the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory to institutionalize local government support for post-incarceration rehabilitation.

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“The F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Program sends a powerful message: a person’s past should not define his future,” Jail Supt. Carlo Obrique, warden of the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory, told the Inquirer. “When we invest in rehabilitation, mentorship, and opportunity, we do not simply change lives, we strengthen families, build safer communities, and create a more hopeful future for all.”

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READ: Beyond bars: Iligan jail makes pitch for second chances

Sponsored by City Councilor Randy Ryan Ong and passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod last August 4, the ordinance aims to assist at least 50 released PDLs annually. Beneficiaries will receive job matching assistance, livelihood starter kits, seed capital, and access to market networks.

Freedom stands for Formation and Reintegration through Entrepreneurship, Employment, Discipline, Opportunities, and Mentorship.

The initiative is anchored on a three-phase framework — values formation, skills enhancement, and pre-reintegration interventions — that begins while the inmates are still serving time. Only those who complete all three phases inside the facility are recognized as “Project FREEDOM Holders” and become eligible for post-release funding.

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Senior Jail Officer 4 Dina P. Tumanda, officer-in-charge of the Iligan City Jail-Female Dormitory, noted that community backing is the linchpin to the program’s success.

“Every person is capable of change when given proper guidance and meaningful opportunities,” Tumanda said.

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“The F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Program provides a structured pathway for transformation and reintegration, ensuring that those who have demonstrated commitment to personal growth inside our facilities are given a genuine chance to rebuild their lives,” she added.