Latter-Day Saint Charities Hands Over Hygiene Kits to District Jails 

Latter-Day Saint Charities (LDSC), the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, handed over 1,973 hygiene and health kits to the Metro Bacolod District Jails (MBDJ), Talisay City Jail, and Silay City Jail on March 15, 2021.

Through the donation project, LDSC provided assistance to the temporary hygiene and healthcare needs of the inmates from the district jails mentioned. Beneficiaries of the said project are the 127 inmates of Talisay City Jail, 330 inmates of Silay City Jail, and the MBDJ Male Dormitory, Male Dormitory Annex, and Female Dormitory having a total of 1,516 inmates.

The formal handover ceremony held at the Talisay Chapel was attended by Jail Superintendent Marie Rose Laguyo, MPSA, Jail Chief Inspector Felix Sariana of MBDJ Male Dormitory, Jail Chief Inspector Ian Karl Niaga of MBDJ Male Dormitory Annex, Jail Inspector Geselle Armentia of MBDJ Female Dormitory, Talisay City Jail Senior Inspector Ma. Lorelie Dimaculangan, Silay City Jail Senior Inspector Elvin Tagaytayan, President Roel Quinquero and President Joaquin Montero from the Bacolod North Stake Presidency, President Rossen Bon Escobar, Bacolod Philippines Stake President, Bacolod Church Communication Council headed by their Communication Director, Marian Marie Miñosa and Bishops from Bacolod North Stake.

In his remarks, President Montero communicated the project’s background and expressed his hope that “may this could help in the management of our brethren behind bars for the hands that help are holier than the lips that pray”. President Quinquero, on the other hand, gave his welcome message and shared his gladness to be of service, after which a video on recent efforts of the LDSC on COVID response was presented.

An introduction on LDS Charities was detailed by Sister Miñosa as she mentioned the signature programs of LDSC with other relief and development projects in 195 countries around the world. She also expressed that the humanitarian efforts of the Church are made possible “based on the core principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability”.

The program highlighted the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement as Jail Superintendent Laguyo with President Escobar, President Quinquero, President Montero and wardens from the five district jails signed the Instrument of Donation and Acceptance.

“Despite this condition that we have right now, still you are making your efforts in providing the needs of not just the BJMP [Bureau of Jail Management and Penology] but also the others in the community,” said Jail Superintendent Laguyo in her message of gratitude. She also presented a Certificate of Appreciation for the Church from the office of Negros Occidental Provincial Jail Administrator.

In his closing remarks, President Escobar shared about the Church doctrine on ministering and he emphasized that “it is important to minister to those in need including those who are in prison”. He added, “This is not just the end but the beginning of changing lives and imparting others and again in the Church, we teach one another to donate and help in many ways we can".