The Department of Justice (DOJ) formed a pact with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to foster the reformation of probationers, parolees, and pardonees through self-sufficiency and skills development.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla signed a 7-page Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez to formalize the partnership, witnessed by Administrator Bienvenido Q. Benitez, Jr. of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA).
“This milestone in our Corrections system was made possible by the earnest and diligent efforts of our present government under the Bagong Pilipinas movement to reform and transform lives, ensuring that no one gets left behind in our path to progress, even those undergoing reformation and corrections,” Remulla said.
Under the agreement, the Justice Department must screen qualified clients (probationers, parolees, and pardonees) considered as the main beneficiaries of the MOA to be referred to TESDA.
Probationers are those convicted of a criminal offense who are placed under a probation officer’s supervision instead of being sent to prison. Parolees are prisoners conditionally released from correctional institutions after serving the minimum period of prison sentence, while pardonees are prisoners released on parole or conditional pardon with parole conditions in place.
The MOA tasks the DOJ to be in charge of informing and encouraging clients to avail of the various skills training programs including but not limited to TESDA’s short-term and community-based training programs to acquire technical skills for employment and career opportunities.
Moreover, the DOJ will coordinate with local government units (LGUs), provide venues for the conduct of skills training, and continuously monitor its clients regarding the status of their training in TESDA’s regional, city, and provincial centers.
TESDA will facilitate access to skills training through the extension and mobile training programs (MTP) of TVET providers and conduct a Training Needs Analysis to determine the skills training programs to be provided.
The cost of the activities and the performance of the Parties’ respective responsibilities will be for the separate accounts of each without charge to or reimbursement from the other Party, unless supported by a prior written agreement.
The said MOA takes effect upon its signing and will have a duration of three years unless the Parties or any of the Parties decide to terminate the agreement before the termination date.
