Volunteer probation officers of Central Visayas set confab

Volunteer probation officers (VPOs) in Central Visayas will convene on Monday to implement community-based treatment program with the Department of Justice-Parole Probation Administration (PPA).

Ceres Geromo, PPA-7 information officer, said more than a hundred VPOs are expected to attend the congress, which will be held at the Ecotech Center in Lahug.

The VPOs come from both public and private offices that help DOJ-PPA deal with clients in different aspects. Geromo said there are VPOs who provide links, assists in counseling, acts as speakers in seminars and any other community works.

There are 172 appointed VPOs last year and a total of 1,293 others are now undergoing training.

PPA national administrator Ismael Herradura will also be in town to grace the activity which is also in line with the weeklong celebration of the agency’s 32nd anniversary.  By Tuesday, Geromo said they will also launch their Internet portal, www.probation.gov.ph, which will also carry the region’s site.

PPA is an attached agency of the DOJ that provides a less costly alternative to imprisonment of offenders.Under the Probation Law of 1976, PPA-DOJ is mandated to rehabilitate an offender through individualized treatment. — Ferliza C. Contratista/LPM