A digital literacy program for inmates in Mindoro has been selected as a champion project at the 2025 World Summit on the Information Society, showing innovative approaches to prisoner rehabilitation through technology education.

The program, dubbed “Project PAG-ASA: Beyond Bars – Unlocking Opportunities through Digital Skills Training,” teaches computer and internet skills to prisoners at the Calapan City District Jail in Oriental Mindoro province.

The program was developed jointly by the regional offices of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

The World Summit on the Information Society announced 72 champion projects from hundreds of global submissions across 18 categories.

The winners were selected based on their alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those promoting inclusive education and digital access.

“Project PAG-ASA reflects BJMP MIMAROPA’s dedication to transforming lives through education and technology,” said Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo, regional information officer for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s MIMAROPA region. “By providing PDLs with digital skills, we prepare them for reintegration and empower them to build a brighter future.”

PDL is the official Philippine government term for “persons deprived of liberty,” referring to inmates and detainees.

The program addresses a critical need in the country, where limited digital literacy can hinder former inmates’ ability to find employment and successfully reintegrate into society after release.

According to government data, the Philippines has struggled with high recidivism rates, making rehabilitation programs increasingly important.

The final 18 World Summit winners will be announced July 10, 2025 during an awards ceremony at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, Switzerland.

The event runs from July 7-11, 2025 and marks the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society.

The World Summit on the Information Society is a multi-stakeholder United Nations process aimed at fostering inclusive and development-oriented information societies.

Originally proposed by Tunisia to the International Telecommunication Union in 1998, it has become a major forum for discussing how technology can advance global development goals.

Calapan jail program’s recognition shows how to effectively rehabilitate prisoners and reduce recidivism.

Digital skills training has emerged as a promising approach, given the increasing importance of technology literacy in the modern job market.

File Photo: courtesy of DICT Mimaropa and BJMP Mimaropa