DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 21 (PNA) — Even in a slammer, a jail bird can get a school diploma and fulfill his dreams.
This happened to 28 detainees of the Dagupan City Jail in Bonuan Gueset here who each received a diploma in Business and Information Management from the Asian Institute of E-Commerce International (AIE) on October 21.
The detainees who underwent schooling received their diploma during graduation rites at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the jail under the College in Jail (CIJ) program supported by AIE.
Jail Chief Inspector Kenneth A. Bid-ing, Dagupan City Jail warden and a lawyer himself, said this is the first batch of inmates who enrolled under the CIJ, supported by AIE.
He said that if there are other inmates who are likewise interested in earning a college degree while waiting for the outcome of their cases inside the facility, the AIE International will conduct another session for them.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, represented by her executive assistant Dr. Edwin Aguirre, was the Commencement and Guest of Honor and Speaker.
In her message, Fernandez encouraged the graduates to inspire other inmates in making their time worthwhile while inside the facility by earning a degree in college, citing the first batch of graduates who benefited from the program.
Lauding the CIJ, Department of the Interior and Local Government City Director Rhoderick M. Dawis said “this is a good weapon which will be very helpful to them (detainees) by the time they earn their freedom and start looking for an opportunity outside of this facility”.
“We are not closing the opportunity for them to acquire good future even while they are inside this facility so they can also give their family a brighter future once they are out,” Dawis said.
AIE president and chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Aveleo Q. Fuentes explained that the “College in Jail Program” is the school’s off-campus advocacy program to help inmates attain a brighter future.
“We saw the inmates’ crying need to finish college, at least 1 or 2 years in business courses leading to college education. That is why we started this program and this will be a continuing advocacy of our school,” Fuentes said.
He assured that the second batch of students from the jail will start classes in July next year.
Vanessa F. Siapno, one of the graduates who has been staying in the facility for four years now was grateful as she was able to achieve something in her life — that is to finish college.
Bid-ing was grateful to AIE for the opportunity given to the inmates and hopes that once they have regained their freedom they will no longer think of coming back to the facility. (PNA)