ILOILO – Thirty women persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Iloilo District Jail-Female Dormitory (IDJ-FD) in Pototan town gained new skills and renewed hope after the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 conducted vegetable production training on August 29.
The activity, held under DA’s Gender and Development (GAD) Program in partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), introduced participants to urban and containerized gardening techniques as a means to promote food sufficiency and women’s empowerment inside correctional facilities.
Paul Andrew Villeta, Agriculturist I of the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), led lectures on basic planting methods.
Regional Technical Director Zarline B. Cuello, vice chair of the DA-6 GAD Focal Point System, said the initiative was more than just skills training — it was a source of encouragement for women PDLs.
“This is already a jumpstart for us. The basic training on vegetable production fuels our enthusiasm and sparks hope for women behind bars. We should not dwell on the past and our mistakes, but look forward to a future where we can live up to our full potential,” Cuello said.
She emphasized that empowering women inside correctional facilities prepares them for reintegration into society.
“We strongly stand for gender equality and an inclusive society. Whether you are inside this facility or outside, we are all equal. Women’s empowerment means empowering all women including PDLs,” she added.
IDJ-FD warden Jail Inspector Fatima Diom expressed gratitude to the DA for extending practical knowledge that can be applied despite limited space.
“Here, we can plant using sacks and recycled materials,” she said, noting that the training is especially useful for PDLs from rural communities who may pursue farming after release, while also offering urban participants innovative approaches to ensure household food security.
The training, the first outreach activity of DA-6 GAD since the formalization of its focal-ship, also opens opportunities for future collaboration under the agency’s Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program, expanding livelihood and food security efforts for women in correctional facilities./PN
