• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Justice – Parole and Probation Administration (DOJ-PPA) Region 6 recently awarded 30 house and lot packages to deserving probationers and parolees at Sweet Homes Paradise Village, Barangay Talongonan, Passi City in Iloilo, enhancing their reintegration into society.
In a statement, Grace Tomaro, DOJ PPA6 regional officer in charge, disclosed that the distribution of house and lot packages, dubbed as PPA6’s Biyaya ng Pasko, was a Pamaskong Handog of Passi City local government unit led by Mayor Stephen Palmares, in partnership with Profriends.
Tomaro said that Profriends also donated additional sheets of long-span galvanized steel roofs to the 30 beneficiaries to ensure the completion of their dream houses.
DOJ-PPA Administrator Atty. Bienvenido Benitez, Jr. lauded Mayor Palmares and ProFriends for their generosity, strong support, and collaborative initiatives in upholding the dignity of individuals, promoting second chances, and in enhancing community-based rehabilitation.
Described as a milestone event by the DOJ PPA, the awarding rites was attended by Benitez, Tomaro, Mary Pauline Villagante of Pro-Friends, Councilor Paul Girard Panes, representing Mayor Palmares, Steven Parreño, Executive Assistant I/ Program Director, Gawad Kalinga, Chief of the Planning Division of DOJ-PPA Wilson Suba, and Atty. Edgar B. Leyson, Jr., PPA 6 Assistant Regional Director.
Tomaro also reported that the Hseih family, composed of Ofelia, Van, and Jeep Hseih, as well as Rachel Bernardo, donated a one hectare lot for the construction of DOJ PPA facilities at Km. 82 in Sitio Tul-ang, Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
The building of infrastructures for various programs of projects of the DOJ PPA in the donated lot, are aimed at further bringing services closer to the people, promote peace and order, social justice and development, through the rehabilitation of offenders in a community based setting, she added.
The recent signing of deed of donation was also attended by DOJ-PPA Administrator Bienvenido Benitez, Jr., PPA 6 Regional Officer-In-Charge Grace Tomaro, Miguel Valmayor, who represented Rep. Gerardo Valmayor Jr., Nida Diwatin, Chief Probation and Parole Officer of San Carlos City and Wilson Suba, the Negros Occidental Chief Probation, PPA Chief Planning Officer, among others.*
