MANILA — Fresh agricultural products worth PHP46.1 million have been procured by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to enhance the meals served to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the initiative not only promotes healthier meals for inmates but also strengthens the livelihood of farmers by turning them into agri-entrepreneurs and ensuring that public funds circulate within local communities.
According to the DILG on Thursday, the procurement forms part of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty program jointly implemented by the BJMP and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The initiative supports food security while helping address hunger and poverty among about 167,000 PDLs nationwide.
Under the program, BJMP sources produce directly from agrarian reform beneficiary organizations, removing middlemen from the supply chain. This system allows the agency to obtain fresher food at lower prices while providing farmers with a reliable institutional buyer.
Records show that Calabarzon led deliveries in 2025 with more than PHP12 million worth of produce supplied to jail facilities. Central Luzon followed with PHP9.9 million, while the Zamboanga Peninsula contributed PHP4.2 million.
The DILG said the government plans to expand and institutionalize the initiative by linking all detention facilities with local farmer groups and strengthening BJMP’s role as a steady market for agricultural products.
ia/xf
