Honesty café opens at Cebu provincial jail

Packs of instant noodles, coffee and other goods are displayed at the Noy Honesto II Coffee Shop at the Cebu jail.
(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

The “Noy Honesto Coffee Shop” fever has spread to the Cebu provincial jail in  barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

On January 27, inmates opened their version of the self-service café that sells instant coffee, biscuits and noodles, then trust customers to leave the correct payment on the table.

A coffee vendo machine stands in one corner of the jail’s lobby  next to two plastic tables used as a  display area. Two hot water thermos bottles are also placed there for those who want to prepare their own coffee.

“Nangita mi ug paagi nga maka income mi aron maka tabang sad ug supporta sa mga panginahanglan sa mga inmates (We found ways for inmates to earn to support their basic needs in jail),” said inmate Lito Granada, the jail’s  brigade leader or mayor de mayores.

Granada said they thought of the “Noy Honesto Coffee Shop II” as an extension of the employees’ canteen in the jail, and to display the bread that inmates bake.

Noy Honesto
They asked provincial jail consultant Marco Toral to inform Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO) Director Noel Gillamac of their plan.

Gillamac earlier introduced the enterprise at the CPPO on January 15. He was inspired by the Batanes Honesty Coffee Shop in northern Luzon which has been operating for almost 20 years.

Gillamac named the CPPO coffee shop “Noy Honesto” after the TV series character of a little boy, who was known for his honesty.

Two weeks later, inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) opened their own version in  the jail’s main lobby.

Visitors have free access to the snacks and coffee, and deposit their payment in a plastic container on the table. They can also collect change, as needed, from money bills and coins left there, all operating on the principle of trust — and technology.

“Dili man sad mi makuyawan nga basin naay mag binoang kay naa may CCTV,” said Granada pointing to the device on the wall.
(We’re not worried of getting duped because there’s a closed-circuit TV camera.)

Granada said they earned about P400 in the first day of operation. The café is open 24 hours a day and has no personal attendants.

Inmates do an inventory at night to check what supplies need to be replenished during their weekly grocery supply. Granada said they hope to increase café sales when they add  to the menu bread products baked by the inmates themselves.

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