MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said the Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security (RISE) project will help persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) acquire new skills and use their potential to contribute to the country’s agricultural and food sufficiency.
The RISE project is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which aims to implement a positive and holistic approach on rehabilitation so the PDLs could be reintegrated more easily into society in the long term.
"The project, which will be deployed on BuCor’s idle lands, will begin operations in the province of Palawan. These lands will be transformed into diversified agricultural zones, hosting a variety of crops, from cashew nut production to dairy farming," the CHR said in a statement.
Apart from rehabilitating PDLs serving sentences of more than three years, this program would create spaces where innovation and modernization will be prioritized to ensure a positive impact on the country’s agricultural sector and tackle the issue of food security.
The CHR commended the initiative as food security is a pressing issue in the country that exacerbates inflation.
"This innovative approach to rehabilitative justice is a concrete way to demonstrate the legal and constitutional obligation of the government. It is also notable that the program seeks for better food sufficiency and improved nutrition in correctional facilities through the year-round availability of fruits and vegetables," it said.
"We are hopeful that this will help improve the welfare and health of the PDLs while giving them the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to food security," it added.
The CHR also assured that it will continue to monitor and ensure that the rights of PDLs are respected, while supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. (PNA)
