PRESO, INC. MONTHLY ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 04-31 OCTOBER

October once again marks the commemoration of the government-led observance of the National Correctional Consciousness Week and the Catholic Church initiative of Prison Awareness Week. This provided us the opportunity to help raise public and private sector awareness on the plight of PDL. Our Community Bail Bond Program continues 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.

Nine of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered.

As of October 31, 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 90 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 ₱ 5,088,030.00. 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 has continued to grow as a compassionate response to the needs of PDL preparing to return to society.

The program continues its pre-release interventions for a fifth batch PDL due for release within October-December. The steady expansion of BANDILA—from 307 PDL provided pre-release formation in the first half of the year to 556 by October—affirms that there is a deep hunger among our brothers for formation, livelihood, and genuine support after release.

A total of seven beneficiaries have now been provided different forms of post-release interventions under the BANDILA program. Two others are currently undergoing assessment.

PRESO, INC. HIGHLIGHTS

PRESO Inc. participated in the National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW) commemoration beginning with feeding activities at several jails. Together with partner organizations and generous individuals that we approached for support, such as Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus and Mr. Gerry Reyes, we were able to provide gift packs, feeding programs and donations of tablets for tele-hearing and e-dalaw.

We likewise supported the CBCP-ECPPC's commemoration of Prison Awareness Week. During their annual Gawad Paglilingkod activity held on October 26 to mark Prison Awareness Sunday, three PRESO, Inc. Board Members were given recognition, Atty. Melvin Calimag, PRESO, Inc. Vice President, Bro. Marlon Manaol, PRESO Inc. Treasurer, and a posthumous recognition was given to Bro. Bong Cala.

Our PRESO team joined the Diocese of Caloocan Restorative Justice Ministry General Assembly last October 12 where our Executive Director, Ms. Tessie Gomez, was a subject matter expert. Our Program Field Officer, Sol Baltazar was a guest during the October 26 episode of the DZMM GBU Program.

We were also invited by the BJMP during their 1st BJMP Stakeholders Forum on PDL Development and Reintegration held last October 23.