MASTERPIECES. Paintings made by inmates from the Dasmariñas City Jail Male Dormitory are on display in this Feb. 8, 2024 photo. The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Friday (Feb. 23, 2024) announced the launch of painting, handicraft-making, and songwriting competitions for PDLs nationwide to hone their skills and creativity. (Photo courtesy of BJMP Dasmariñas City Jail Male Dormitory Facebook page)
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched painting, handicraft-making, and songwriting competitions for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) nationwide.
In Memorandum Circular 2024-020 released on Friday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said these contests are part of the welfare, rehabilitation, and reintegration pillars of the government’s flagship anti-drug program Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA).
“There is more to life behind bars for our PDLs than just serving time and waiting for the day of their release. At naniniwala kami na ang ating mga PDL ay may malaking potensyal (We believed that our PDLs have big potentials). Through these competitions, we aim to tap in their creativity kaya inaanyayahan natin ang ating mga kababayang PDL na sumali sa mga kompetisyon na ito (so we are inviting our PDLs to join these competitions),” Abalos said in a statement.
Abalos said the competitions will have regional and national levels where winning entries will receive cash and other prizes courtesy of the Ciara Marie Abalos Foundation, established in honor of her late daughter.
Entries in the painting tilt will be judged for their creativity and originality (40 percent), craftmanship/skills (20 percent), quality (20 percent), visual execution (10 percent), and difficulty (10 percent).
Musical composition entries will be selected for their originality and uniqueness (40 percent), lyrics (20 percent), melody and harmony (15 percent), structure (15 percent), and vocal performance (10 percent).
Meanwhile, handicraft-making winners will be chosen through their originality and creativity (40 percent), quality of craftsmanship (25 percent), complexity of the design (20 percent), and aesthetics and visual appeal (15 percent).
He said interested PDLs must coordinate with the local Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and DILG regional offices for further details.
First placers in all competitions at the national level will receive PHP150,000; second placers will get PHP100,000; and third placers will win PHP50,000.
Regional winners will also get PHP20,000; second placers will win PHP15,000; and PHP10,000 for third placers. A consolation prize of PHP5,000 would also be given to 14 participants.
All national and regional winners will each get a trophy and a certificate. Certificates of participation will also be given to all participating jail units.
The cash prizes would be given to the winning PDLs' families, Abalos added. (PNA)
