Solon pushes for more modern jails to prevent COVID-19 spread

Inside of the new Mandaluyong City Jail (Photo from the Office of Rep. Gonzales)

MANILA, Philippines — A House leader is pushing for the creation of more modern jails to avoid overcrowding and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the country.

Deputy Speaker and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II on Thursday pushed for funding for the creation of more modern jails, saying the condition of PDLs should also be monitored as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

“In these trying times, we are hoping that Congress will also shed light on the needs of our fellow Filipinos who have been deprived of liberty. PDLs also deserve humane and safe facilities especially now that we are in a pandemic,” Gonzales said in a statement.

Gonzales made the remark after the inauguration of the first fully automated and modern city jail in Mandaluyong.

“We see this facility as the solution to the perennial problem of congestion in our jails in Mandaluyong because the old BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) building has the capacity of around 170 PDLs but it currently houses over 700 inmates,” Gonzales said.

“Ang bagong city jail na ito ay siguradong masu-solusyunan ang kadalasang problema ng overcrowding sa mga city jails, kaya’t madalas ay nagkakahawaan ng mga pigsa at mga skin disease at iba-ibang mga sakit ang mga inmates,” he added.

(The new city jail will solve the problem with overcrowding of city jails where skin diseases and other diseases spread among inmates.)

The new Mandaluyong City Jail worth P515-million boasts of an energy-efficient design, a “sunning area” on the roof deck, a basketball court, and state-of-the-art kitchen and laundry facilities.

/MUF