Officers of the BJMP Caraga assessed the damage wreaked by Typhoon Odette at the BJMP facilities. Image from Facebook / BJMP Caraga
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has assured that jail facilities and personnel in Caraga Region that were affected by the recent Typhoon Odette, are being supported by the main office.
According to a statement from BJMP on Saturday, their Caraga office remains on heightened alert status after three out of 12 jail facilities in the region sustained damage due to the typhoon.
While no jail breakout incident was recorded, the typhoon affected 150 BJMP personnel — who received cash and grocery assistance from the BJMP through its chief Jail Director Allan Iral during his visit to Surigao del Norte on Friday.
In his message to the jail officers, Iral expressed his gratitude to the BJMP personnel who ensured that the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under their care would be secured during the height of the typhoon’s onslaught.
“Maraming salamat at muli ninyong pinatunayan hindi lamang ang inyong malasakit sa ating mga PDL kundi ang inyong kahandaan sa mga ganitong klase ng kalamidad,” Iral said.
(Thank you as you have proven again not only your concern for our PDLs, but also your preparedness with these kinds of calamities.)
“I know how difficult it is for you to stay in our jails, helping the people from your immediate surroundings while ensuring that everyone especially the PDL are safe,” he added.
Aside from the assistance to the personnel, BJMP’s Multipurpose Cooperative also donated three generator sets that would be handed to the most affected facilities in the region.
Iral, on the other hand, promised that a quick rehabilitation would be initiated by the bureau to ensure that affected facilities can start recovering.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala. You have the backing of the whole agency. Babangon tayo ng mabilis mula sa kalamidad na ito,” Iral assured.
(Do not worry, you have the backing of the whole agency. We would recover quickly from this calamity.)
“Aabutin natin lahat ng mga apektado nating kasamahan hindi lamang mga dito sa CARAGA kundin maging sa iba pang lugar na tinamaan din ng bagyo,” he added.
(We would reach out to all those affected, not only here in Caraga region, but also in other parts of the country that have been ravaged by the typhoon.)
From December 16 to 18, Typhoon Odette left a trail of destruction through the northern parts of Mindanao, southern portions of Visayas, and then over to Palawan — leaving a trail of destruction which is being compared to Super Typhoon Yolanda’s effects in 2013.
Many believe that Caraga provinces of Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands are the hardest-hit areas.
As of Saturday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said that 367 been confirmed dead while 51 remain missing. Meanwhile, numbers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that over 108,000 houses were totally damaged due to Odette.