(L-R) Jail Warden of Guagua District Jail Male Dormitory JSUPT. Edmund L. Llamasares, Director of BJMP Regional Office III JCSUPT. Paulino H. Moreno Jr., UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria and UPOU FED Dean Charisse T. Reyes
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), together with the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)—Region III, solidified their collaborative ties through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 07 October 2024 at Guagua District Jail, Pampanga. This partnership is the 2nd subprogram (contributing towards rehabilitating persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) through higher education) of the UPOU Faculty of Education’s (FED) PAGTULAY Program: Pagpapalawig ng mga Oportunidad sa Edukasyon para sa lahat ng Pilipino (Inclusive Educational Opportunities for the Filipino People).
UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, UPOU FED Dean Charisse T. Reyes, Jail Warden of Guagua District Jail Male Dormitory JSUPT. Edmund L. Llamasares, and Director of BJMP Regional Office III JCSUPT. Paulino H. Moreno Jr. signed the first agreement as the primary stakeholder of the program. UPOU Chancellor Bandalaria, Dean Reyes, and PSAU President Dr. Anita G. David signed the second agreement, symbolizing that the two institutions will work together in this program to provide the PDLs in Guagua District Jail access to quality higher education. Faculty and staff from UPOU included OVCAA Program Development Associate for Institutional Linkages, Asst. Prof. Margaret Jarmin Suarez; Office of Public Affairs (OPA) Director, Dr. Myra C. Almodiel; OPA staff members Zyrene Edrei Villanueva, and Anna Mhari Duria; Asst. Prof. Hanna May F. Rosario, Rhonna Marie R. Vereña, Lorelee R. Mones, and Harold V. Mangubat from FEd; and Deputy Director Lexter J. Mangubat and Lovelyn Petrasanta from Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL)-Educational Media Production (EMP).
UPOU and PSAU ink MOA symbolizing that the two institutions will work together in this program to provide the PDLs in Guagua District Jail access to quality higher education
Chancellor Bandalaria emphasized that this partnership embodies UPOU’s mandate to make education available to all, “Ang UPOU po ay itinatag noong 1995, ‘yun po talaga yung mandato, make education available to all, especially to the marginalized sectors and areas of the Filipino society or the Philippines. Napakahalaga nitong ginagawa natin kasi dito pinapakita natin na iba na yung ating inaabot ngayon. At ipinapakita ng UPOU […] na naabot na namin ang ibang sektor kasama na po ang grupo ninyo.” Dean Reyes also noted that this program is not merely an extension program, but a pathway for PDLs to earn a degree that can serve as a valuable credential upon their release.
This meaningful ceremony marks a significant milestone for UPOU in promoting educational inclusivity. The MOA signing with PSAU and BJMP Region III signifies UPOU’s commitment to making quality education accessible to all, regardless of circumstances. By partnering with these institutions, UPOU can extend its reach and provide opportunities for marginalized sectors of society, such as PDLs.
UPOU remains steadfast in its mission to uphold its values and mandate to provide access to quality education for all. This collaboration is a testament to the university’s dedication to social justice and its belief in the transformative power of education. As UPOU continues to expand its programs and partnerships, it will strive to create a more equitable and inclusive society where everyone can learn and grow.
Written by Zyrene Edrei Villanueva ♦ Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Photos by Anna Mhari Duria
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