Manila: The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has procured PHP46.1 million worth of fresh, locally grown produce to improve meals for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) emphasized that this initiative not only ensures consistent nutrition for PDLs but also supports farmers as agri-entrepreneurs, channeling government spending back into local communities.

In a statement, the DILG highlighted that the program is part of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty. This joint effort by the BJMP and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) addresses hunger and poverty while ensuring food security for approximately 167,000 PDLs nationwide.

"By coordinating directly with agrarian reform beneficiary organizations, the BJMP has cut out middlemen, securing fresher, higher-quality food at lower cost while providing farmers with a stable market," the DILG stated.

In 2025, Calabarzon recorded the highest deliveries with over PHP12 million, followed by Central Luzon with PHP9.9 million and Zamboanga Peninsula with PHP4.2 million.

The DILG aims to institutionalize this program by linking all jail facilities to local farmer groups and strengthening the BJMP's role as a reliable institutional market. The BJMP operates under the DILG.