EL PROVEEDORES FOUNDATION, INC. (ElProF) is a non-stock, non-profit welfare organization with an office located at 144 Mindanao Avenue Barangay Bahay Toro Quezon City. It was registered on 7 November 2014 with SEC Reg. No. CN 201421793 from the Securities and Exchange Commission and BIR Registration No. 008901065000 It was granted the registration and license to operate and accredited level I category by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The FOUNDATION primarily was created to assist released Persons deprived of Liberty and their families and those Persons with Special Needs especially those with economic problem and social deprivation wherein, according to some study are the origins of crimes. It is on this aspect that after – care programs of the Foundation were developed.
An organization that will provide a dynamic and sustainable programs and services that will address the needs of its clientele, their family and the community in support to the government thrust of public safety and improving economic situation of its citizenry.
Initially, the operation of the foundation shall start within the area of the National Capital Region for the community-based programs and services which will eventually expand to the nearby regions and as it continues its operation and if the need arises, it will expand to other regions nationwide.
The Foundation expanded its operation through, a Resource Center shall be established at Region IV-A in Tanay, Rizal for its skills training program. The Foundation will prepare and ensure document and accreditation to fully operational of the Center.
History of the Foundation
Based on the records of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and Philippine National Police, number of crimes committed and offenders are increasing yearly. Various non-government organizations (NGOs) assist in helping inmates while inside the jail facilities. However, inmate needs cannot be totally met as their programs and services is either one shot deal or within a certain period only while they are incarcerated but the bigger problem is after they are released from jail. Facing the life after discharged are more challenging to most released Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) especially to those with economic problem and social deprivation wherein according to some study are the origins of crimes. In this aspect, after care programs are much needed in order for these PDL’s to positively go back to society and again be part of the community as law abiding citizens.
Re-entering society after long-term incarceration is riddled with challenges. Those with a criminal history face many barriers to receiving public benefits, gaining successful employment, regaining custody of children and obtaining housing. Vocational programs may not be available in jail, prison or upon release, limiting the ability of those with a criminal history to update their job skills in order to obtain employment. Many are suffering with mental or physical illnesses with limited means of getting adequate treatment. All of these issues are in addition to problems borne out of the societal stigma associated with serving time in jail or prison.
The reintegration of offenders into their own community and society is one of the universally accepted goals of corrections, whether the latter is carried out in institutions or through non-custodial measures. To ensure that offenders discharged from detention centers, jails, penal institutions or rehabilitation centers re-claim their part and role in society, there is a need to assist them in their reunification with their families and reentry into the community. Thus, it is imperative to sustain rehabilitation and achieve reintegration through the community-based treatment of ex-offenders.
Moreover, the commission of crime is a result or consequence of the inter-play of factors and conditions in one’s self, the immediate and bigger environment, and one’s choices and decision-making processes. Hence, it is necessary that these human and environmental factors are examined closely and appropriate measures adopted to assist ex-offenders in their reintegration efforts.
Recognizing that the community is usually also the focus of the offense or crime, the community must be harnessed to assume greater responsibility in reforming offenders and preventing recidivism. The community and society must also play vital roles in the elimination of the psycho-social, economic, and cultural barriers and other causes of crime in its environment, in order to prevent crime, ensure peace, and promote development in the locality.
To maximize the role of the community in an offender’s reintegration process, there is a need to continuously re-examine the concepts related to community-based corrections. At the same time, new approaches that have evolved locally and globally, related to these concepts should be appreciated. In this process, best practices in community-based corrections must be documented and replicated, so that they continue to be viable alternatives to custodial care of offenders.
Thus, the Foundation was established to provide support to those released PDL and Special Needs clients and their families. Programs and Services are developed according to the needs of individual whether they are in a residential facility or in the community where they preferred to live.