New Bilibid’s problems need to be addressed

MANILA, Philippines—“We have no choice but to make both ends meet,” a doctor from the New Bilibid Prisons told Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, during the latter’s visit to the maximum security facility Wednesday.

Dr. Gloria Garcia said the NBP Infirmary has a capacity of 500 patients. It currently has 480, out of whom 150 are outpatients, while 98 are undergoing treatment in the psychiatric ward.

Garcia said each inmate has a budget of three pesos earmarked for medicine, except for tuberculosis. If they do have tuberculosis, they need to coordinate with the Department of Health (DoH) for the medicine to treat this.

Most common illnesses inside the national penitentiary are hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

“We adjust. This is not a typical hospital but we have to manage. We should make both ends meet,” Garcia said.

The NBP infirmary has 55 attendants, 14 of whom are doctors. Currently, aside from the lack of medicines, Dr. Cynthia Pascual De Lara said their problem is potable water. She said they draw water from a deep well for their patients.

Meanwhile, two inmates are getting ready for freedom-Joel Myntit, 35 who has been in prison for 11 years said he will go back to his home town in Sultan Kudarat, while Walter Taguro who has been in prison since 2007, will return to Baguio.

A staff from the Director’s office of the Bureau of Corrections said each inmate who has been released is given a transportation allowance of P50 for those living in Metro Manila, and P200 as food allowance. Those who have to travel to their respective provinces are given free tickest to their destination, and P200 for food.

The incident involving former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste (who was captured by police outside of the facility’s walls) has prompted the government to look into the myriad problems of the national penitentiary. BuCor officials are consistent in their lament that the Bilibid’s abysmally low budget, and the low salaries of their personnel, are prime reasons for the facility’s current existence.