What has been done:
For the month of September our CBB Program continued with our Program Field Officers' 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.
Our partner, El Proveedores Foundation continued to provided assistance to PDL and their family. One of our CBB Clients provided with a small business loan underwent a financial management seminar to aide in her new business.
Aside from the weekly monitoring of our released Participants, our Program Field Officers likewise were unfailing in conducting initial home and barangay visits for applicants, coordinating with barangay officials & PAO lawyers, and the processing of bail for CBB Applicants.
Twenty-three of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. Three hearings pushed through while the others were postponed/reset for various reasons.
For this period, we were able to successfully release six CBB Participants from detention. All were released through bail. They join the 184 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
We continue to explore partnerships geared towards the development of holistic PDL reintegration. Last September 6 we met with JCI Manila and last September 11 we met with Pasig councilor Eric Gonzales.
We attended several service providers meeting at Navotas City Jail Male Dorm, Manila City Jail Male Dorm and Pasay City Jail Male Dorm.
Our CBB Program Field Officers likewise paid courtesy calls to the Wardens of San Jose del Monte City Jail Female Dorm and Paranaque City Jail Female Dorm.
Last September 27 we attended a presentation by the Medical Action Group promoting compassionate early release for PDL
Our partner, Bro. Emman Soabas continued with regular values formation sessions for 6 BJMP jails.
Last September 6, our PRESO Board of Directors held their regular meeting to discuss future initiatives of the organization.
As of October 4, there have been 485 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 249 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 135 had been successfully bailed out while another 55 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 63 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 Php 4,115,410.00. 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.
As we forge ahead with our Community Bail Bond Program, 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!
Comments