ILOILO — Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is moving to transform the Iloilo District Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan into a full-fledged livelihood training hub, a shift aimed at equipping nearly 2,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with employable skills and income opportunities even while behind bars.
The plan is a short-term priority of the provincial government, with the jail envisioned not just as a detention facility but as a center for skills development and productivity.
“Kon may livelihood kundi maayo,” Defensor said.
The governor said the province is already coordinating with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)–Iloilo to map out and plan the conversion.
The programs being lined up will be linked with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to ensure that inmates gain nationally recognized skills.
Defensor stressed that the goal is to make PDLs productive and better prepared for reintegration into society once they are released.
Among the livelihood projects being considered is the establishment of a hatchery inside the jail compound, which would be managed by the PDLs themselves and serve as a potential source of income.
“We have the ART Center beside you. Kamo ang ma-handle sang hatchery, that’s good money,” Defensor said, noting that an existing ART Center near the jail already has hatchery facilities that could be replicated.
Meanwhile, as part of its commitment to the holistic rehabilitation of inmates, the Iloilo provincial government is also constructing a P8-million multi-purpose gym at the Iloilo District Jail Male Dormitory. The facility will be used for physical wellness activities, sports events, and other recreational programs for PDLs.
“Gusto naton nga ang Iloilo District Jail ang mangin pinakamanami nga jail sa bilog nga pungsod,” Defensor said during the groundbreaking ceremony on December 20, 2025.
The governor was joined at the event by Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig and officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. As a token of appreciation, BJMP officials presented Defensor with a diorama handcrafted by the PDLs./PN
