A group of parolees and probationers in Negros Occidental’s Victorias City are given a new lease on life through the reintegration programs provided by various government agencies.

They include 140 males and eight females supervised by the Department of Justice Parole and Probation Administration (DOJ-PPA).

“Everybody deserves a second chance in life,” Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said in a statement yesterday.

He underscored the importance of education, capacity building and reintegration of offenders into the community.

The city government entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on January 12 with the DOJ-PPA, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd) Victorias City Schools Division Office, and the Office of the Congressional Representative of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental for the implementation of various rehabilitation programs for the beneficiaries.

“We redeem lives and give them a second chance,” DOJ-PPA Administrator Bienvenido Benitez, Jr. said during the signing rites.

The rehabilitation programs will focus on livelihood, entrepreneurship and capability building.

The local government unit will converge with its partner-agencies for community organization, monitoring and evaluation.

The DepEd will start accepting students in August this year for those enrolling in the Alternative Learning System.

The TESDA will conduct a survey among the parolees and probationers for the training they need, but it will initially offer a course on food processing.

Other officials present during the MOU signing were 3rd District Representative Jose Francisco Benitez, City Schools Division Superintendent Portia Mallorca, and supervising TESDA provincial specialist Ernesto Duremdes. (PNA)