DOST – Pangasinan opens opportunities for PDLs in Dagupan City Jail, Provides training on Calamansi Juice Processing

IN its continuing effort to bring science, technology, and innovation closer to all, the Department of Science and Technology – Pangasinan (DOST-Pangasinan) conducted a Technology Training on Calamansi Juice Processing for 30 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) on August 20, 2025, at the Dagupan City Jail – Male Dormitory (DCJ-MD).

The partnership between DOST-Pangasinan and DCJ-MD forms part of its Skills and Enhancement Training Program for both PDLs and jail officers. The training opens opportunities for microenterprise development inside and outside the facility, giving PDLs a better chance at opening opportunities that support rehabilitation and successful reintegration into their communities

One of the participants, identified as “Mario” (not his real name), shared, “𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨-𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯. 𝘛𝘢𝘰𝘴-𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘨𝘰𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰” (This training has given us hope to start a livelihood once we return to our homes. We are sincerely grateful for the knowledge and for the opportunity to learn while spending our time here).

Mr. Alvin S. Aguilan, Instructor I from Pangasinan State University – Bayambang Campus, and Ms. Monica May B. Varilla, a Professional Food Technologist from the DOST Region 1 – PSU Food Innovation Center served as the resource persons of the training. The activity featured Calamansi Juice Processing as one of the technology offerings of the PSU–DOST Region 1 FIC under its extension and skills training program, which aims to promote food innovation and enterprise development. The participants also learned about current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Basic Food Safety, essential foundations for producing safe and market-ready food products.

SJO4 William L. Atiwag Jr., DCJ-MD Unit Executive Senior Jail Officer, emphasized the importance of the activity, noting that the support of DOST-Pangasinan and PSU-DOST 1 FIC greatly contributes to empowering PDLs by providing them with technology-based skills training that prepares them for livelihood and reintegration. ( 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘗. 𝘎𝘶𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢)