Manila: Various government agencies led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) launched a caravan in Manila to bring government services to people deprived of liberty (PDLs). The initiative, named the Pag-asa Expo: Katarungan at Serbisyo (Service and Justice) Caravan, was inaugurated at the Manila City Jail in Sta. Cruz, Manila. DILG Undersecretary Serafin Barretto Jr. emphasized that the initiative is part of the government’s responsibility to uphold justice and ensure service for all, including those incarcerated.

According to Philippines News Agency, the caravan will offer various services, including the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), psychosocial counseling, extended Balik Probinsya assistance, legal consultations by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and support for over 200 PDLs scheduled for release.

The caravan, in collaboration with private partners, involves several government agencies, including DOLE, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and PAO. As part of the program, 5,000 hygiene kits were distributed to the PDL population at the Manila City Jail.

Additionally, 200 TUPAD beneficiaries will be employed for 10 days, earning PHP695 per day, which is the minimum wage for National Capital Region workers. DILG Assistant Secretary Liavel Badillo-Crisostomo stated that those employed through the emergency employment program will work within the facility, performing tasks such as cleaning, gardening, and painting.

Crisostomo explained that while PDLs can only possess PHP2,000 per week inside the facility, arrangements with Western Union will allow them to send money directly to their families during payouts. The DILG and its partner agencies reiterated their commitment to delivering essential services to PDLs and plan to extend the caravan to other regions across the country.

This initiative is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for a whole-of-government approach to bring essential services closer to the grassroots level, particularly to vulnerable sectors.