PRESO, INC. MONTHLY ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 03-30 JANUARY 2026

PRESO, Inc. starts 2026 with strengthened resolve to provide paralegal support, avenues towards release, and pathways to reintegration for PDL. Our Community Bail Bond Program is revitalized to help aid in obtaining early release for PDL while our Better Versions initiatives continues developing avenues towards re-socialization and reintegration of released PDL.

COMMUNITY BAIL BOND PROGRAM

What has been done:

Our Program Field Officers continued with their regular activities that included conducting weekly monitoring/home visits of successfully released participants, providing guidance and updating the steps they are taking towards becoming productive members of their communities.

As of January 30, there have been 527 individuals referred to our program coming from 24 city jail facilities, 2 provincial jail facilities, 17 police stations, 3 youth centers, 3 correctional facilities, and 3 national agencies. Of this number 267 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 155 had been successfully bailed out while another 55 had been released through other legal means.

More significantly, we have a total of 113 CBB Participants who have successfully graduated from the CBB Program. We consider participants as having successfully graduated from the Program after their cases have been closed, and at least another six months of monitoring have elapsed. Throughout this period, they must have shown to be responsible members of their community and can lead productive lives.

With their release, the government has now saved ₱ 6,107,030.00. This is computed by adding the amount budgeted per day (PhP70 for food) per PDL multiplied by the number of days since the day of the release from jail of every individual Participant. These savings will increase as days go by and as long as their cases are not terminated. For those whose cases are dismissed, served early or whose probation was approved, we expect a savings of least 60 days of non-incarceration.

Additionally, on top of the food savings by the government, these individuals are now back to the community and actively engaged in their livelihood- hence contributing to the economy. We minimized their exposure to the criminogenic jail environment leading to better reentry to the society as responsible members.

BETTER VERSIONS INITIATIVE

The BANDILA Aftercare Program at Manila City Jail Male Dormitory started the year with orientation, formation and financial literacy sessions for the 6th batch of PDL due for release this January and February.

We continued monitoring the micro businesses and capital loans provided to beneficiaries that took part in the first "Bukas Loob Tungo sa Bagong Pag-Asa" reintegration program.

PRESO, INC. HIGHLIGHTS

PRESO, Inc. was privileged to be invited as one of the Workshop Panelists on" Alternatives to Imprisonment" during the 3-day 2nd National Decongestion Summit held at Manila Hotel. The Summit focused on restorative measures, increase in PDL releases and broadened participation of all stakeholders with the Judicial Sector Coordinating Council as convenor. The summit gathered 250 participants from government, civil society organizations and experts and advocates.

Embracing the concept of lived experiences in policy formulation, we partnered with the University of the Philippines National College of Policy Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), together with other CSO's and persons restored of liberty (PRL) to brainstorm on a proposed 1st National Conference of Released Offenders.

We received a generous donation of one brand new motorcycle for use in our aftercare initiatives for released PDL.

Our partner, Bro. Emman Soabas of the Commission on Biblical Apostolate and supported by Dr. Jean Rafanan, continued with the weekly virtual values formation sessions attended by several BJMP jails.

Our chief consultant, Dr. Raymund Narag returned to the country for several engagements connected with the criminal justice pillar. His itinerary included ongoing work with the DOJ, PPA and other agencies.

As we forge ahead with our Community Bail Bond Program and Better Versions Initiatives, we continue to learn and re-learn approaches and procedures. And this is a welcome experience for us. We envision that more PDLs and CICLs would be assisted soon with their liberties restored, their dignity regained and that their lives are eventually rebuilt. We as a community have a significant role in all these. In the long run, support for our prisons and prisoners as a whole would benefit all of society in terms of lower rates of recidivism and increased sense of public safety. GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!