PDLs earn college degrees through PSU-Asingan program
TWO Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)–Urdaneta District Jail Male Dormitory proudly marched in their togas during the 46th Commencement Exercises of the Pangasinan State University (PSU) on August 14, 2025 — a milestone that marked the first time in the Ilocos Region that detainees completed a college degree while serving time.
One of them earned a degree in Bachelor of Industrial Technology, majoring in Electrical Technology, and the other Electronics Communication Technology through PSU-Asingan’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program.
This achievement was made possible by the Achieving College Education (ACE) in Jail Program, a collaboration between PSU-Asingan and BJMP-Urdaneta Male Dorm, under the leadership of Acting District Jail Warden INSP Randy Batay-an.
The initiative also drew strong support from SJO1 Sheryll Ann Tamayo, Chief of Welfare and Development, and JO3 Maria Rhealyn Parayno, Chief of the Community Relations Service Unit, who spearheaded educational programs within the facility.
“One of our goals is to give PDL access to education… We are dedicated to providing avenues for self-improvement so that they’re better prepared to reintegrate into society when the time comes,” Parayno said.
For one of the graduates, known as Rob (not his real name), the experience was nothing short of life-changing.
“I was once an Electronics Communication Engineering student, but life took an unexpected turn,” he said.
Rob’s journey was not easy. Limited resources and a restricted environment meant he had to rely on discipline, time management, and unwavering determination. He completed his academic requirements through a modular distance learning program.
To support the program, the BJMP even organized a “shoot-for-a-cause” event to help cover tuition and material costs — a show of solidarity from both the institution and the wider community.
As more PDLs prepare to begin their academic journeys under the ACE in Jail Program, this groundbreaking partnership between PSU-Asingan and BJMP-Urdaneta affirms that rehabilitation is not just about discipline but about empowerment — equipping individuals with the tools to rebuild their futures through education, Batay-an said. (Eva Visperas)
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