In an effort to provide Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) with opportunities for community reintegration, the Department of Science and Technology - Pangasinan (DOST-Pangasinan) recently conducted a technology training session on calamansi juice processing.
The training aims to equip participants with the skills necessary to pursue livelihood opportunities. This partnership between DOST-Pangasinan and Dagupan City Jail – Male Dormitory (DCJ-MD) forms part of its Skills and Enhancement Training Program for both PDLs and jail officers.
One of the participants, identified as “Mario” (not his real name), shared, “Ang training na ito ay nagbigay sa amin ng pag-asa na makapagsimula ng kabuhayan kapag nakabalik na kami sa aming mga tahanan. Taos-puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa kaalaman at sa pagkakataong matuto habang ginugugol namin ang aming panahon dito.”
(This training has given us hope to start a livelihood once we return to our homes. We are sincerely grateful for the knowledge and for the opportunity to learn while spending our time here.)
Alvin S. Aguilan, Instructor I from Pangasinan State University – Bayambang Campus, and Monica May B. Varilla, a professional Food Technologist from the DOST Region 1 – PSU Food Innovation Center served as the resource persons of the training.
The activity featured calamansi juice processing as one of the technology offerings of the PSU–DOST Region 1 FIC under its extension and skills training program, which aims to promote food innovation and enterprise development.
The participants also learned about the current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Basic Food Safety, essential foundations for producing safe and market-ready food products.
SJO4 William L. Atiwag Jr., DCJ-MD Unit Executive Senior Jail Officer, emphasized the importance of the activity, noting that the support of DOST-Pangasinan and PSU-DOST 1 FIC greatly contributes to empowering PDLs by providing them with technology-based skills training that prepares them for livelihood and reintegration.
Technology training is one of the many initiatives of theDepartment of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph. (By Brenn Justin P. Guevarra, DOST-1)
