The University Extension Office (UEO) of the University of Northern Philippines empowered persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the BJMP Vigan City Jail with practical livelihood and entrepreneurship skills through “Baking Beyond the Oven: Empowering PDL Through No-Bake Banana Bread Making” on September 30, 2026.
The activity formed part of the UEO’s continuing extension initiatives for persons deprived of liberty, emphasizing food processing as a practical and sustainable livelihood skill that can contribute to personal development, support family needs, and create opportunities for future income generation. Beyond skills training, the initiative sought to equip PDL with competencies that can strengthen self-reliance and prepare them for productive reintegration into their families and communities.
The activity combined knowledge-sharing and hands-on skills development, beginning with a lecture by Prof. Jevie Abella, Coordinator for Community and Social Services, who discussed the health benefits of bananas and their potential for value-added food processing. The session highlighted how locally available agricultural resources can be transformed into nutritious, marketable products while opening possibilities for livelihood generation and sustainable community development.
The lecture was followed by a hands-on training on no-bake banana bread making facilitated by Dr. Jeanina Batin, Coordinator for Food Processing, with the assistance of Master of Arts in Livelihood Education – Home Economics students Ms. Myflor Serdenia, Ms. Alyssa Tamba, Ms. Leila Deserie Rebibis, Ms. Charlene Raguini, and Ms. Jessanine Yadao.
Participants were guided through the preparation, proper handling, mixing, shaping, and processing of banana bread using simple, accessible techniques that eliminate the need for an oven. The practical approach demonstrated how food processing can be adapted to available resources and undertaken with basic equipment, making it a viable skill for potential livelihood applications.
More than imparting food preparation techniques, the training nurtured creativity, resourcefulness, and self-reliance, equipping the PDL with practical competencies that can support personal development and future livelihood opportunities. The initiative likewise reinforced the value of sustained skills development in helping PDL prepare for productive and meaningful reintegration into their families and communities.
Article by Eileen Rose Q. Paculan
