BAGUIO CITY — In a heartwarming show of community support, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), through its Panag-aywan Iti Kailyan (PIK) program, turned over essential items including rain boots, school supplies, and other provisions to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Baguio City Jail Male Dormitory on May 21, 2025.
The donated items will be gifted by the PDLs to their families, particularly their children, ahead of the upcoming school year.
One emotional moment during the activity came when a PDL, visibly moved, shared how the school bags and supplies he received would ease his worries about preparing his children for school.
He expressed gratitude for the timely assistance and underscored his belief in the power of education, illustrating the program’s impact not just on detainees, but also on their families.
Jail Warden JCINSP John Wayland M. Lapon welcomed the initiative, thanking BCPO and its stakeholders for the support.
“This initiative contributes to the holistic development of our PDLs by fostering a sense of community care and instilling hope,” he said.
BCPO City Director PCOL Ruel D. Tagel, in his message, emphasized the program’s broader mission to address socio-economic factors that often lead to criminal behavior.
“Panag-aywan Iti Kailyan serves as a proactive policing effort aimed at addressing the root causes of criminality — poverty, lack of opportunities, and access to basic resources,” he said.
PCOL Tagel also highlighted that crime prevention is a central pillar in his five-focused agenda.
Under this initiative are several projects including:
Binnadang Kordillera, which fosters communal unity;
Balik-Akademya, which focuses on skills training and livelihood support for PDLs and marginalized groups; and
Liwanag, a crime awareness campaign that engages communities and educates the public on local crime trends.
“The Panag-aywan Iti Kailyan program rekindles hope amidst difficult circumstances. When the day of release finally comes, our PDLs should know that they are not alone — opportunities and support await them,” Tagel added, reaffirming the BCPO’s commitment to reintegration and reducing recidivism through community empowerment.
The activity was made possible through the generosity of private partners including C&T Builders, JMLA Meat Trading, JVP Construction, Mapitagan South Elite Eagles Club, Evolve Industrial Supplies, and Inkorporate Office Solutions Company.
BCPO continues to champion rehabilitation and reintegration through efforts like these , reinforcing its role as not just enforcers of the law, but as enablers of second chances.
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