PRESO, INC. MONTHLY ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 30 AUGUST - 03 OCTOBER

For the month of September our Community Bail Bond Program and Better Versions Initiatives continued to addressing the needs of PDL towards early release and aftercare.

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.

Eight of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. One hearing pushed through while the other seven were postponed/reset for various reasons.

As of October 3, 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 ₱ 5,738,750.00. 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

Following the initial months of groundwork, 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.

We likewise expanded our services by providing a small capital loan to one of our beneficiaries.

Last Sept. 2 & 4, we paid courtesy visits to Judge Maria Sophia T. Solidum-Taylor, Manila RTC Branch 31 who is a staunch advocate of PDL aftercare. We agreed to support PDL who have been granted release through plea bargaining through BANDILA. Initial home visitation and interview for her first referral was conducted last Sept. 7.

OTHER PRESO, INC. ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH

Our partners, Dr. Jean Rafanan and Bro. Emman Soabas of the Commission on Biblical Apostolate continued with their weekly virtual values formation sessions at selected BJMP Jails. Dr. Rafanan provided snacks at selected participating jails.

We attended regular Service Providers meetings at Malabon and Manila City Jail Male Dormitories last Sep. 10 and 29 respectively.

Last Sept 23, we were invited to launching of the DILG Pag-asa Expo: Serbisyo at Katarungan Caravan at Manila City Jail. This brings crucial government services directly to PDLs. Among the services extended were the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, psychosocial counseling, extended Balik Probinsya assistance, as well as legal consultations and aid for over 200 PDLs who are set for release.

We paid a courtesy visit to Mandaluyong City Jail Male Dormitory's newly appointed Warden, SUPT. Dave Jambalos last Sep 8.

We continued our engagements and partnerships with other group such as ICAP and Civika.

Our organization likewise shared in the nation's indignation against extra judicial killings and corruption with the formal launching of the Access to Justice Ministry of the Diocese of Kalookan last Sept. 7 and the Trillion Peso March Against Corruption last Sept. 21.

Last Sept. 18 we held another special PRESO Board Meeting where we formalized the updated composition of the Board of Trustees and discussed new initiatives and plans for the coming year.

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!