The Commission on Human Rights expresses its support to the Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security (RISE) project signed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) that aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate persons deprived of liberty through agricultural work while contributing to the Philippines’ food security.
 
The project, which will be deployed on BuCor’s idle lands, will begin operations in the province of Palawan. These lands will be transformed into diversified agricultural zones, hosting a variety of crops, from cashew nut production to dairy farming. This initiative aims to create spaces where innovation and modernization will be put forward to ensure a positive impact on the country’s agricultural sector and tackle the issue of food security. The project is also committed to rehabilitating PDLs serving sentences of more than 3 years, by integrating them into the program.
 
CHR welcomes this collaboration between the two government bodies, which implements a positive and holistic approach on rehabilitation by offering valuable prospects for PDLs. The RISE project offers them the opportunity to acquire new skills, to use their potential to contribute to the country’s agricultural and food future, and in the long term to reintegrate more easily into our society.
 
By integrating PDLs in the program through productive work and capacity-building, this innovative approach to rehabilitative justice is a concrete way to demonstrate the legal and constitutional obligation of the government. It is also notable that the program seeks for better food sufficiency and improved nutrition in correctional facilities through the year-round availability of fruits and vegetables. We are hopeful that this will help improve the welfare and health of the PDLs while giving them the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to food security.

Considering that food security is a pressing issue in the country, which also exacerbates inflation, CHR commends this initiative that aims to tackle multiple issues while promoting humanitarian ideals.

We are looking forward to the efficient and scaled-up implementation of the project to ensure impact in all the areas it seeks to improve and address. Further, CHR hopes this initiative will enable the implementation of more policies and rehabilitative justice projects that will be beneficial to the reformation and welfare of PDLs.
 
For our part, CHR will continue to monitor and ensure that the rights of PDLs are respected, while supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. ###