MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Monday received praises from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año for the 120 percent decrease in the congestion rate at jail facilities.
Data from the BJMP shows that the jail congestion rate nationwide went down from 612 percent in December 2017 to 488 percent in November 2018.
“BJMP has always been at the forefront in providing humane treatment to persons deprived of liberty and what is valuable for this agency is that BJMP keeps on finding reformative approaches to transform them,” Año said during a management conference at the BJMP Headquarters.
The problem of congestion inside city and municipal jails has hounded the agency for several years. Sometimes, detainees or “persons deprived of liberty” (PDLs) get sick or die due to unhygienic conditions inside the facilities.
To continue bringing down the congestion rate, BJMP said they will prioritize infrastructure projects. A total of 188 jail facilities will be expanded this year while 60 jail buildings and 13 additional perimeter fences will be built.
Aside from decongestion, BJMP Chief Director Deogracias Tapayan boasted that 89 percent of the 476 jails nationwide are now PDEA-certified drug-free facilities.
Despite these achievements and plans, Año are still encouraging BJMP officials to further improve their jail management capabilities, and the delivery of services to PDLs by strengthening their recruitment strategy and scrutinizing applicants’ knowledge, skills, and character.
“There is no room for personnel that [are] misfits [in] our organization. As public servants, I expect you to be at your best form,” Año said.
“Sama-sama nating isulong ang programa ng ating Pangulo kontra droga. Sasamahan namin kayo sa pagsugpo at pagpapanatiling drug-free ang bawat pasilidad ng BJMP (Let us push together the President’s anti-drug program. We are with you in your effort to keep all BJMP facilities drug-free),” he added.
Tapayan assured that programs such as internal cleansing and decongestion will continue.
“We will not stop until all jails will be declared drug-free, contraband-free, and our PDLs were provided with responsive programs that could ensure their rehabilitation while under our care,” he noted. /ee