At least 15 female inmates at the Puerto Princesa City Jail in Palawan are getting a fresh start as they join the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) TUPAD program starting May 2, 2025.

Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) MIMAROPA information officer said the short-term work program will give them 10 days of work inside the jail, earning P430 per day—the minimum wage in MIMAROPA—for a total of P4,300 each.

They will do basic maintenance tasks and join cooking classes to build new skills.

Anglo said the program aims to prepare the women for life after detention.

"This initiative is designed not just to provide temporary work, but to equip female PDLs with practical skills that can lead to long-term income opportunities," he added.

The TUPAD program, usually for displaced and disadvantaged workers, has now expanded to include persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to help them through productive work.

BJMP said this project supports their ongoing programs for women inmates, many of whom are mothers or primary caregivers.

Officials hope the work experience and skills will help the women rebuild their lives once they are released.

(with reports from JO3 Joefrie Anglo, IO-BJMP MIMAROPA)