Parole office needs more volunteers

 CEBU, Philippines - “We need the community 24/7.”

This was what Manuel Co, national administrator of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA)-Department of Justice, said yesterday as he encouraged more people to participate in their Volunteer Probation Aide (VPA) program.

“Ku-konti lang po talaga ang tao sa PPA so we really need the community to also provide help,” Co said.

Co, as well as PPA-7 acting regional director Jeorgette Paderanga, were guests of yesterday’s special Kapihan sa PIA for the 36th founding anniversary of PPA-DOJ.

Paderanga said that they are still recruiting VPAs to meet the target ratio of 1 volunteer per two clients (probationers, parolees and conditional pardonees).

The current ratio at PPA-7 is 1:6, Paderanga said.

She said there are 1,405 VPAs under PPA-7 but only 400 of these are supervising the clients while the rest are resource individuals.

Most of the VPAs are barangay officials, teachers and priests, among others.

VPAs must be at least 35 years old (considering the most number of offenders, who are adults), financially capable or with good standing in the community to avoid issues on corrupting the clients, willing to supervise the clients and make a monthly report, and will work without being paid.

Co said PPA does not provide compensation for the VPAs but they provide training on how to conduct counseling and introduce the basic course of the law, among others.

“Please help us. Our objective is to achieve an orderly and peaceful society and we can achieve economic development if there is strong peace and order in the society,” Co said.

During the week-long celebration of PPA’s 36th founding anniversary, which culminated yesterday, PPA-7 awarded VPA Raul Cosido with the Outstanding VPA Award for Cebu.

The VPA program is PPA’s strategy to be able to generate maximum citizen participation or community involvement.

VPA helps pave the way for the offender, the victim, and the community to each heal from the harm brought about by the crime done.  (FREEMAN)