SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday congratulated 36 individuals— including 11 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and 25 released individuals— from the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory for completing senior high school through the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s  “education behind bars” program.

In his statement, Gatchalian extended his warmest congratulations and praised the initiative’s commitment to inclusive education.

“This program shows how we can give marginalized groups like PDLs a second chance at education,” the senator said.

“We must continue ensuring that the Alternative Learning System (ALS) reaches every Filipino seeking a second chance to learn, graduate, and improve their lives,” he added.

A staunch advocate of education reform, Gatchalian emphasized the transformative power of education in rehabilitating and reintegrating individuals who have been part of the criminal justice system.

The graduation marks a milestone in BJMP’s continued efforts to provide education to inmates and former detainees, equipping them with the skills and credentials to start anew beyond prison walls.

The ceremony also underscored the government’s broader goals of restorative justice and social reintegration through education.