By MJ Roldan
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines— Access to decent work and livelihood can play a crucial role in helping parolees and probationers rebuild their lives, prompting the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) to strengthen partnerships with government agencies that can provide employment and skills development opportunities.
The PPA links its clients with agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to help them find jobs, acquire new skills, and establish sources of income that can support their families and help them become productive members of their communities.
Gabriel Angelo C. Sernade, supervising probation and parole officer, said the agency actively coordinates with partner agencies to bring employment and livelihood opportunities closer to its clients.
“Kami po ang lumalapit sa DOLE at TESDA para ilapit ang trabaho sa aming mga clients at mabigyan sila ng pangkabuhayan at assistance,” Sernade said.
(We personally coordinate with DOLE and TESDA to bring employment opportunities closer to our clients and provide them with livelihood assistance and other forms of support.)
Sernade said that through its partnership with TESDA and other agencies, the PPA also facilitates access to skills training and National Certification, which can improve clients’ employability and expand their chances of securing jobs locally or abroad.
This year, the PPA has assisted 397 clients through various employment and livelihood interventions. In May, more than 50 clients from Aparri and Sanchez Mira in Cagayan received assistance, while similar interventions were provided last year to clients in Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Cauayan City, and other areas of Isabela.
Sernade also said the agency facilitates access to DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program and other employment assistance.
“This year, about 50 clients referred through partner offices have benefited from employment interventions,” he said.
Beyond employment, the PPA also helps clients establish alternative sources of income through livelihood assistance. During the Labor Day celebration, beneficiaries received equipment and materials for small businesses, including carinderia and cooking equipment, glasses, carpentry materials, and barbershop equipment.
“These interventions are intended to help clients develop practical skills, generate income, and gradually become self-sufficient while complying with the conditions of their parole or probation,” he added.
He also emphasized that successful reintegration goes beyond monitoring and supervision. Providing parolees and probationers with opportunities for employment, skills development, and livelihood is equally important in helping them regain confidence, support their families, and contribute positively to their communities.
Through stronger partnerships with DOLE, TESDA, local government units, and other government agencies, he added that the PPA continues to pursue a whole-of-government approach to rehabilitation and reintegration. The effort seeks to ensure that parolees and probationers are given meaningful opportunities to start anew, become economically productive, and build more stable lives in their communities. (OTB/MJR/PIA Cagayan)
