57 prisoners complete UP Open University design courses

Completion ceremony of 57 persons deprived of liberty who finished designed courses under the University of the Philippines Open University. (Photo from Bureau of Corrections)

MANILA, Philippines — Fifty-seven persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) completed design-related courses under the University of the Philippines Open University (UPUO), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Sunday.

Under the BuCor Workforce Development Program, 30 PDLs finished the Digital Literacy and Principles of Graphic Design program, while 27 others completed the Introduction to Permaculture: The Ethics of Permaculture and Design Principles.

“The vital role that accessible and inclusive education plays in fostering personal growth and new opportunities,” BuCor Director General Pio Catapang said in a statement.

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Catapang added that education could be a “beacon of hope and a pathway to reintegration into society” for those who have been incarcerated.

He also thanked the UP System President Atty. Angelo Jimenez, UPUO Chancellor Prof. Joanne Serrano, and UP Alumni Association President Regent Robert Lester Aranton for aiding in the facilitation of the program.

“The BuCor, UPUO, and the UP Alumni Association have not only provided courses but have also ignited a sense of inspiration and empowerment among the PDLs, preparing them for a brighter future,” the BuCor statement added. / gsg