The celebration of the National Book Week 2025 at VMA Global College and Training Centers, Inc. continued its second day with a Book Caravan and Donation Drive at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities in Handumanan, Tabunan, and Taculing, serving both male and female libraries, a press release from VMA said.
The event was spearheaded by Elizabeth Salabas, chairman of the Board of Trustees of VMA, together with Chester John Ferrer, head of the Community Extension Development Office – KAPAWA and Jona Macaranas, Chief Librarian. They were joined by CPO Dionisio Milano, Dean of Discipline, and other VMA staff.
Upon arrival, the BJMP personnel warmly received the delegation and showcased their existing library facilities, opening opportunities for collaboration in promoting information literacy and access to educational resources among persons deprived of liberty (PDL). The visit also allowed the librarians to provide professional assistance in acquiring, preserving, organizing, and disseminating information to strengthen jail library services.
This activity is anchored on BJMP Memorandum Circular No. DWD-MC-152, s. 2023, titled “Guidelines in the Establishment and Operation of Jail Libraries.” The Circular underscores that access to information is a basic right and a tool for rehabilitation, encouraging every jail facility to maintain a functional library that supports education, moral reformation, and reintegration of PDLs. It also highlights the importance of trained personnel and proper organization of library materials to ensure effective delivery of services.
Prior to the donation drive, library-in-charge personnel from BJMP attended an Information Literacy and Library Management Orientation led by the Chief Librarian, focusing on “Developing and Sustaining Library Services for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL)”. The session provided practical strategies for managing and promoting reading activities within the correctional setting.
In her message, Elizabeth Salabas emphasized that “Books open the mind and restore hope. Education continues even behind bars when compassion and knowledge are shared.”
The sustainable extension program is part of VMA’s advocacy to promote literacy, education, and social reintegration, led by the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) under Dean Kirsty Mae Magno, in collaboration with the Community Extension Development Office – KAPAWA and the VMA Library.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between VMA Global College and the BJMP, reaffirming the institution’s mission to advance education and reformation beyond the classroom.*
