Manila, March 26 -- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has procured PHP46.1 million worth of fresh, locally grown produce to improve meals for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the initiative ensures more consistent nutrition for PDLs, supports farmers as agri-entrepreneurs, and channels government spending back into local communities.

In a statement Thursday, the DILG said the program is implemented through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty, a joint effort of the BJMP and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to address hunger and poverty while ensuring food security for some 167,000 PDLs nationwide.

"By coordinating directly ...