BJMP mounts donation drive for COVID-19 response

MANILA, Philippines — A donation drive from all personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is expected to raise at least P7.23 million which will be used to support the government in the fight against the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Jail Director Allan Iral said 1.5-percent from the base pay of each personnel, starting from him to Jail Officers 1 or the lowest ranking officer, will be deducted from their salary in May.

He said the amount will be turned over to the Office of the Civil Defense.

“We hope that this amount could somehow reinforce the needed support to help our people, especially the health workers who are in the frontlines,” Iral said in a statement on Monday.

“This is on top of initiatives of our personnel in the field to help their respective localities,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in all BJMP jails nationwide also help in the government’s efforts by providing free services in the sewing of personal protective equipment needed by frontliners.

A total of 14,875 BJMP personnel are manning the bureau’s 468 district, city and municipal jails across the country.

To donate salaries

BJMP personnel nationwide are also set to donate part of their salaries to the government’s COVID-19 response.

In a virtual Laging Handa public briefing Monday, BJMP Spokesperson Xavier Solda revealed that all BJMP employees will donate 1.5 percent of their salary which will accumulate a total of P7.23 million.

“Lahat ng BJMP personnel nationwide merong 1.5 percent mula sa aming base pay, aabot sa total na ₱7.23 million. Lahat ng personnel tutulong po kami sa efforts ng national government,” Solda said.

He also bared that inmates are also doing their part by making face masks and other personal protective equipment to be used by COVID-19 frontliners.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it is eyeing to raise up to P17 million from the salaries of every AFP members in the military payroll.

This came after Malacañang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte will donate his one-month pay to the government’s efforts in the coronavirus disease crisis while members of the Cabinet will pitch in 75 percent of their monthly salary for the months of April to December.

EDV / JPV