19 QC detainees earn college diploma

MANILA, Philippines — Nineteen persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory (QCJFD) on Saturday earned their Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship degree on Saturday.

The PDLs were scholars of the Quezon City University as part of the city’s “No Woman Left Behind” program.

“Nakapagtapos na ang 19 women persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) na nakapiit sa Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory (QCJFD) sa kursong BS Entrepreneurship na bahagi ng programang “No Woman Left Behind” ng lungsod,” the Quezon City government announced in a Facebook post.

(Nineteen women persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) detained in Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory (QCFJD) graduated from college with a BS Entrepreneurship as part of the city’s “No Woman Left Behind” program.)

Aside from the 2-year course, the Quezon City government said that Adult Basic Education, High School Equivalency, and creative and recreational programs are part of the education programs for QCFJD.

“Bahagi nito ang mga programang nagbibigay oportunidad para sa PDLs tulad ng livelihood, aftercare services, mother and child care, at health care services,” it added.

(Part of these are programs that give opportunities to PDLs like livelihood, aftercare services, mother and child care, and health care services.)

Meanwhile, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Open University recently held its first class at the Manila City Jail Male Dormitory as a commitment to “more inclusive and equitable education” in the country.

Last March, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said sending PDLs to school would avoid repetitive offenses and help improve communities.

He cited a 2023 data from the Department of the Interior and Local Government showing that a total of 19,299 PDLs managed to continue their education while being in BJMP facilities through educational partnerships.