THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Justice are collaborating to provide skills training to probationers, parolees, and pardonees.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez signed a memorandum of agreement to support former prisoners.

“This milestone in our Corrections system was made possible by the earnest and diligent efforts of our present government under the Bagong Pilipinas movement to reform and transform lives, ensuring that no one gets left behind in our path to progress, even those undergoing reformation and corrections,” Remulla said.

Under the MOA, DOJ will screen beneficiaries for TESDA’s training programs and work with local government units to support and provide venues for training. Meanwhile, TESDA will facilitate the training, conduct a training needs analysis, and assess and certify graduates based on the Philippine TVET Competency Assessment and Certification System.

The program will run for three years.

Probationers are convicted individuals not sent to prison but supervised by a probation officer. Parolees are conditionally released from prison after serving a minimum period, and pardonees are released on parole or conditional pardon with set conditions.