Tags: Cottage Industries, Handicrafts, Livelihood Programs
By Marjorie Gorospe
MALOLOS CITY, BULACAN– Living behind bars did not stop 30 inmates from earning money by weaving ‘buntal’ hats for export.
Prisoners from the Bulacan Provincial Jail (BPJ) were trained to weave buntal hats, more popularly known abroad as Panama hats.
The town of Baliuag is known for its industry of traditional hat weaving. In fact, it celebrates the annual Buntal Hat Festival each May.
According to provincial jail warden Pepito Plamenco, inmates are P160 up to P240 for each finished hat, which takes three days to complete.
Inmates were trained and assisted by Rosario Decasa, who founded the Baliuag Buntal Enterprises.
Aside from hat weaving, inmates were also trained on product recycling and other services like massage therapy.
The local government, meanwhile, also vowed to intensify their support for livelihood programs for inmates including making of candles and assorted candies, among other items sold in a pasalubong store.
BPJ has so far produced 13 inmates who recently received certificates of completion in the elementary and secondary levels and 48 inmates who were also awarded certificates for livelihood training.
At present, there are more than 2,000 prisoners are detained at the BPJ and 86 juvenile delinquents at the Tanglaw Pag-asa Juvenile Center.
(Photo courtesy of Bulacan Provincial Jail)
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