The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional Office III (BJMPRO-III) have formalized a partnership aimed at helping Persons Restored of Liberty (PRLs) successfully reintegrate into society through employment opportunities.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and BJMP Region 3 Director Jail Chief Superintendent Ma. Annie A. Espinosa signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Workplace Reintegration Program for Persons Restored of Liberty at the SBMA Administration Building on June 4.
Witnessing the signing were SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Ramon O. Agregado, SBMA Labor Department Manager Atty. Melvin Varias, BJMP Provincial Office-Zambales Administrator Jail Superintendent Ferdinand G. Malabo, and officials from the Olongapo District Jail.
Under the agreement, qualified PRLs will be given access to employment opportunities within the Subic Bay Freeport through a skills-matching program designed to support their transition back into mainstream society.
Aliño emphasized the importance of providing former inmates with a second chance through meaningful work.
“Personally, I am a firm supporter of programs that aim to reintegrate PRLs as reformed and productive members of mainstream society. I strongly believe that it is not only our civic responsibility but more importantly, a just and humane act of service to our fellowmen,” he said.
He noted that the initiative builds on SBMA’s earlier efforts to promote inclusive employment. In 2025, the agency partnered with the Department of Justice-Parole and Probation Administration (DOJ-PPA) for a similar workplace reintegration program benefiting parolees, probationers, and pardonees.
Aliño added that the agreement made SBMA the first government-owned and controlled corporation to support the DOJ-PPA’s workplace reintegration plan.
For her part, Espinosa described the partnership as a significant step in strengthening rehabilitation efforts beyond incarceration.
She said the program reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to create pathways toward meaningful and sustainable employment for former persons deprived of liberty.
“By opening doors to legitimate work opportunities, the agreement seeks to empower PDLs with dignity, purpose, and a renewed sense of responsibility as they transition back into society,” Espinosa said.
She added that the partnership underscores the commitment of both agencies to transform lives, foster hope, and build a more inclusive community where reformation is matched with real opportunities for growth and success.
The Workplace Reintegration Program is expected to enhance public safety while supporting the long-term rehabilitation and social reintegration of former inmates through gainful employment.
