A total of 64 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Brooke’s Point District Jail in Palawan received basic first aid training from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as part of efforts to enhance disaster preparedness inside jail facilities on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

BJMP regional information officer Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo said it is important to equip PDLs with life-saving skills.

“At jail facilities, if the PDLs know how to do first aid, they could attend to their fellow PDLs in case of an emergency. It is important for people like them who hardly get the opportunity to learn first aid to gain knowledge how to save lives,” he said.

During the training, PDLs learned how to identify life-threatening emergencies, perform bandaging, make splints, and properly stabilize or carry patients.

One of the trainees, a 32-year-old former healthcare worker, expressed his eagerness to share his knowledge with his fellow inmates.

“I learned how to tie knots in a way that ensures they are secure and reliable during emergencies, such as earthquakes or fires,” he said.

According to BJMP-BPDJ community relations service officer Jail Officer 1 Niño Marco Dadores, the BFP commended the trainees for their active participation.

He added that BJMP continues to collaborate with local government units and other agencies to provide capacity-building programs for both personnel and PDLs.

(with reports from JO3 Joefrie Anglo, IO-BJMP MIMAROPA)