PRESO, INC. MONTHLY ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 28 FEBRUARY-04 APRIL 2026

March was a hectic month with our organization starting new initiatives with partner groups aimed at helping released Persons Deprived of Liberty in their path towards reintegration.

Our Community Bail Bond Program continued to reach more PDL who deserve to be released from detention. Our Better Versions initiatives likewise 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 April 4, 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 ₱ 6,411,180.00. 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 second batch of our Bukas Loob Tungo sa Bagong Pag-Asa seminar formally began on March 11 with the second session the following week. Speakers for the two days were Mr. Mike Bartolome, CBPC-ECPPC Program Officer, Fr. Bok Arandia, PJPS Executive Direcor, and Mr. Carlo Capacillo, SPARK_PH/JCI Manila.

Sr. Tammy Saberon conducted Lenten Recollections for 3 NCR jails.

The BANDILA Aftercare Program at Manila City Jail Male Dormitory continues unabated where capital loan and medical assistance were provided for 2 beneficiaries.

1st NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PRL

PRESO partnered with six organizations advocating and providing services for Persons Deprived of Liberty have joined forces to conduct the 1st National Conference for Persons Deprived of Liberty on May 22, 2026.

This is a pioneering initiative that brings the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals to the forefront of criminal justice reform in the Philippines. This conference recognizes that those who have lived through arrest, detention, incarceration, and reintegration hold critical insights that can inform more humane, effective, and responsive policies.

Preparatory meetings were conducted during the month.

PRESO, INC. HIGHLIGHTS

PRESO, Inc. attended two major activities of the El Proveedores Foundation: a fundraising fellowship and their annual general membership meeting.

We facilitated the visitation and gift giving activity of Mary Help of Christians Ministry at Paranaque CJ-FD.

Our Chief Consultant, Dr. Raymund Narag, returned to the country for several engagements. The CBB team got together with him to catch up.

During his latest visit he conducted several activities with La Salle Green Hills, Cavite State University, PPA and UNODC.

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!