In a continuous stride to improve the country's Corrections system while safeguarding and empowering women persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in their reformation, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), forged a partnership with the Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran or SPARK Philippines today.
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated 15 January 2025, both parties threshed out their mutual responsibilities and goals in furtherance of Project Arts, Crafts, and E-Commerce (Project ARTE) geared towards improving the lives of PDLs through nationwide technology upskilling and income generation programs.
Under the MOU, the DOJ is tasked to formulate the policies and roadmap in the planning and implementation of Project ARTE.
The DOJ, through the BuCor, shall facilitate the prioritization and identification of correctional facilities for the initial launch of Project ARTE and its subsequent undertakings, as well as the selection of qualified PDLs who will become beneficiaries of Project ARTE.
The specifics of the respective contributions from the Program Partner shall be determined at a later date embodied in a separate document and executed at a later date.
Both Parties shall be obliged to explore the possibility of implementing Project ARTE as a sustainable long-term initiative.
"Over the past years, our Bagong Pilipinas government has made significant strides in laying out the roadmap in shaping the country's corrections system to attain meaningful and long-lasting change and the progress we have right now can speak for itself. However, our mission is far from over, so much work has yet to be done so I call on everyone for their continuous support especially to our women PDLs,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" C. Remulla stressed.
Secretary Remulla also expressed his warmest appreciation to Spark Philippines Executive Director Maica Teves and bag designer Zarah Juan for their unwavering support to the DOJ's advocacy programs since day one.
Project ARTE is a flagship reformation and livelihood project for women PDLs under the leadership of Undersecretary Margarita N. Gutierrez, fully supported by Undersecretary-in-Charge for the Corrections Cluster Deo L. Marco and BuCor Director Gregorio Catapang, Jr.
