Irosin District Jail in Sorsogon has begun a hydroponics program that produces lettuce for the facility and provides inmates with a source of income. The project, which started on 10 February 2026, is part of the National Urban and Peri‑Urban Agriculture Program and was implemented with support from the Irosin Municipal Agriculture Office and the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program. The hydroponic garden yields about 100 heads of Olmetie lettuce every 45 days. Each head is sold for ₱25, and a portion of the harvest is distributed to the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for consumption while the proceeds from sales supplement their livelihood. According to BJMP Bicol Information Officer Joefrie Barbacena Anglo, the initiative also offers inmates practical agricultural skills that can aid their rehabilitation after release. Training for the program was attended by 25 PDLs and jail personnel. It covered hydroponics principles, equipment, system installation, and plant care, with technical instruction provided by a resource speaker from the Department of Agriculture in Irosin. During a facility inspection on 1 November, BJMP Bicol Regional Director Jail Senior Superintendent Jose Gemelo C. Taol praised the jail management and urged staff to improve the system to increase production and ensure the project’s sustainability.
Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune