At least 20 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the San Teodoro District Jail in Oriental Mindoro have completed a government-backed carpentry training program aimed at helping them build skills and prepare for life after incarceration, officials said.

The 20 male PDLs graduated from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) National Certificate (NC) II Carpentry Training Program during a ceremony held at the jail facility on June 16, 2026.

The participants completed the 38-day course and received certificates of completion. Each graduate also received a training support fund of P6,080, bringing the total assistance distributed to P121,600.

The training covered essential carpentry skills, including the proper use and maintenance of hand and power tools, reading construction plans, measurement and layout techniques, installation of wooden structures, construction of formworks and scaffolding, and workplace safety standards.

All training materials and instructional requirements were provided by TESDA.

BJMP MIMAROPA spokesperson, Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo, said the program forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen rehabilitation and provide inmates with practical skills they can use after serving their sentences.

“Skills development programs such as carpentry training help prepare PDLs for life beyond incarceration by enhancing their capacity for gainful employment and self-sufficiency,” he added.

Anglo said vocational training also helps build discipline, responsibility, and self-confidence among participants while improving their chances of successful reintegration into society.

The activity was conducted under the supervision of Acting District Jail Warden Jail Inspector Jerome Garlejo and the jail's Welfare and Development Officers, in coordination with TESDA facilitators.

According to Anglo, the initiative highlights the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s commitment to restorative rehabilitation by providing livelihood opportunities and helping inmates reconnect with their families and communities upon release.

The BJMP said it will continue implementing skills training and other development programs designed to promote personal growth, self-reliance, and positive behavioral change among persons under its custody.