Five Tacloban Jail Inmates Earn Elementary Diplomas, Take Steps Toward a Better Future

Posted on July 24, 2026 at 7:30 pm

TACLOBAN CITY — Five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the Tacloban City Jail Male Dormitory completed their elementary education through the Alternative Learning System (ALS), showing how education continues to provide opportunities for personal growth even inside correctional facilities.

The five graduates received their diplomas during the 18th Graduation and 11th Moving-Up Ceremony held on July 18 at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Formation House in V&G, Tacloban City.

Their achievement highlighted the role of education in the rehabilitation programs of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which provides learning opportunities to inmates who were unable to finish their formal schooling.

The Tacloban City Jail Male Dormitory joined the graduation ceremony under the supervision of JSSUPT Rill F. Sonon, DSC, JD, regional director of the BJMP, and JCINSP Benedicto C. Ramirez Jr., city jail warden.

Ramirez congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to continue pursuing their goals despite the challenges they face.

“May this milestone be the start of greater opportunities, brighter dreams, and a future filled with hope. Your success is proof that education can change lives and that every second chance is worth embracing,” he said.

He also reminded the graduates that education goes beyond receiving a certificate.

“Education is not just about earning a diploma; it is about rebuilding lives, restoring hope, and creating a brighter tomorrow,” Ramirez added.

The ALS program allows persons deprived of liberty to continue their studies while serving their sentences. Through the program, learners are given the chance to complete basic education and gain knowledge and skills that may help them when they return to their communities.

For the five graduates, receiving their diplomas was a personal achievement after completing their lessons despite the limitations of life inside the jail facility.

The BJMP said programs such as ALS are part of its efforts to support rehabilitation by helping inmates improve themselves and prepare for life beyond incarceration.

The graduation also reflects the importance of providing education opportunities to people in detention, allowing them to work toward positive changes while completing their sentences.

For the five PDL graduates, the diploma they earned serves as a reminder that learning can continue despite difficult circumstances and that personal improvement remains possible at any stage of life.

Photos by: Ronnie Yanuario