PPA wants bigger budget

CEBU, Philippines - Parole and Probation Administration administrator Ismael Herradura is asking the government and the Department of Budget Management to double their budget which is just P30 million for the whole country.

PPA disclosed that putting their clients back in the communities helps them be reformed and make up for their crimes and one of the reasons why they are asking for extra resources is for the community-based clients and their volunteers.

Herradura said that a great number of their clients show huge improvements in their personalities through their community-based treatment rehabilitation program wherein the clients get to live a normal life after being pardoned or paroled.

PPA has 8,000 new volunteers through the Volunteer Probation Aide wherein they assist in the rehabilitation and treatment efforts of the agency’s clients.

Herradura explained that the volunteers, as part of the community, play a vital role in the reforming their clients.

However, this number is short from their ultimate goal of 50,000 volunteers. But they are hoping that they will be getting more by 2010.

The volunteers, according to Herradura, come from different professions like barangay officials, businessmen and even retired workers as long as they are willing and capable to help the clients.

Volunteer Probation Aide system in correction and rehabilitation of offenders was created in the 1970’s wherein they had around 2,000 volunteers, but this went down to only 100 volunteers in the 90’s, said Herradura. — AJ de la Torre/BRP (THE FREEMAN)