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CEBU CITY: The “Dancing Inmates” first seen on the YouTube
website called attention to the city’s penal system, if out of
initial curiosity. Some eight million viewers have reportedly
registered on the YouTube website since word got around about the
video feature, reported the Philippine News Agency over the weekend.
Director Pedro Noval of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 7, said that four
countries, South Korea, Chile, Ecuador and Cambodia, have expressed
interest for the unique program after viewing a video of 1,500
inmates from Cebu dancing to the tune “Thriller” during an
international penology forum, focusing on strategy and performance
held in South Korea recently.
Noval was the Philippine representative to the
convention.
Officials from four the countries praised the
Cebu Provincial Government’s management of the Cebu Provincial
Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), for coming up with an
innovative “culture of discipline” of prisoners through dance
and music.
Of the 12 participating countries, the
Philippines was among five delegates chosen to present a paper on
best practices in the rehabilitation of inmates.
In his presentation, Noval highlighted the
jail’s four-tiered security system, participative management
through divide and rule approach, code of conduct for the inmates,
decongestion, livelihood opportunities, integration of music in
physical fitness, and societal participation.
Noval said the presentation impressed Dr. Park
Yeon Soo, president of the Korea-based Local Government Officials
Development Institute, a training provider for senior local
government officials.
“He said that only the Philippines presented
an innovation at work. Other countries such as Ecuador, Chile, and
Cambodia asked for copies of my video presentation and text,”
Noval said.
Noval said that after CPDRC’s massive overhaul
of the jail management system and reorganization of personnel,
“corruption in jail finances, gambling, and illegal purchase of
contraband were eliminated.”
“Inmates’ earnings are recorded in a
passbook, from which they can withdraw from the Court of First
Instance Community Cooperative when they attend the trial of their
cases.” Noval said.
YouTube, a popular website, made available to
interested viewers the video of “dancing inmates,” which
reportedly accounted some five million hits in August.
Over eight million have seen the video
presentation since… and still counting, Noval noted.
The CPDRC has been nominated for the
Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook or Gawad Galing Pook, a pioneering
awards program for innovation and excellence in local governance.
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