In a landmark collaboration promoting rehabilitation through education, Foundever® Palawan, through its University and Community Partnership (UCP) program, joined forces with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Puerto Princesa to launch a Digital Literacy Skills Training Program aimed at helping inmates build essential skills for a better future.
The initiative, conducted in partnership with the Language Academy at Foundever Palawan, represents a significant step toward integrating digital learning into the rehabilitation process. The one-day intensive session provided inmates with practical training on fundamental computer skills, typing, and the use of essential digital tools — knowledge that has become indispensable in today’s technology-driven job market.
“Education and skills development are powerful tools for transformation. By providing digital literacy training to individuals within the correctional system, we’re teaching more than just computer skills–we’re also offering hope, dignity, and real opportunities for a fresh start when they return to their communities,” according to Freda Lou Caguin, Site Director for Foundever in Palawan.
This community-focused collaboration underscores Foundever’s ongoing commitment to inclusive development and social impact. The company’s UCP initiatives aim to strengthen communities by providing access to learning opportunities that prepare individuals for sustainable employment. Through programs like this, Foundever demonstrates how private sector participation can complement government-led rehabilitation programs, particularly in empowering persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to reintegrate into society as productive citizens.
According to BJMP Puerto Princesa, such partnerships are vital in addressing the underlying causes of recidivism by equipping inmates with employable skills and restoring their confidence and sense of purpose. Digital proficiency, once considered a specialized skill, is now a basic requirement for most professions, from office work to small-scale entrepreneurship.
The initiative also aligns with the Philippine government’s broader efforts toward criminal justice reform, emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment alone. By introducing technology-focused learning modules, Foundever and BJMP hope to spark a culture of continuous education and self-improvement among inmates.
Beyond its corporate offices, Foundever continues to expand its mission of empowering communities through education. The success of the Digital Literacy Skills Training Program in Puerto Princesa serves as a model for how business institutions can play a transformative role in building more inclusive, compassionate, and future-ready communities across the Philippines.