Governor Davide’s wife Jobel inspects the recycled bag manufactured by the CPDRC inmates. (CONTRIBUTED)
To make life more productive while in detention, the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) launched its bag-making program on Friday.
A project of Gov. Hilario Davide III and his wife Jobel, tarpaulins used as campaign posters during the May 9 elections were recycled by turning them into grocery bags.
“The income may not be big, but at least, we earned something to buy our basic needs such as soap,” Adonis Comendador said in Cebuano.
With six electric sewing machines, the CPDRC tapped the help of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to teach the inmates how to sew tarpaulins into grocery bags. So far, there are nine detainees who are part of the program.
The inmates also turn pre-campaign billboard tarpaulins into tents.
The CDPRC has three existing livelihood programs – bakery, automobile repair and maintenance shop and house ornaments.
As a way of showing her support and appreciation for the inmates’ valuable work, Jobel bought a miniature galleon, a ship used by explorers in the 16th century, from the group of Alex Hugo, which makes decorative items for the house.
Hugo was the former spokesperson of the transport group Nagkahiusang Driver sa Sugbu (Nadsu). Police arrested him in 2008 for illegal possession of firearms and for allegedly being a member of the New People’s Army.
“Maayo pud nga mapahimuslan ang talents sa mga inmates samtang naa pa mi diri (It’s better to put the talents of inmates to good use while we’re still here),” Hugo said.
He said the decorative items are made from discarded cardboard and paper hardened by mixing them with leftover rice. Colored plastic bottles and soft drink straws were also used for building miniatures.
Other replicas made by Hugo’s group are churches, houses, fountains with Virgin Mary icons, parks with Magellan’s Cross and horse carriages and Santa Claus figures surrounded with Christmas trees.