Jail congestion down to 298% from 600% – BJMP
Congestion at the Quezon City jail (Photo from AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Congestion in the country’s jails is now at 298 percent, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The figure was given by BJMP Spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera in a press conference on Friday at the Department of Interior and Local Government headquarters in Quezon City.
Bustinera said the bureau has 484 jails across the country that are holding a total of 115,791 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
This number represents a decrease when compared to the previous record of the bureau.
“[S]iksikan pa rin yung ating mga piiitan, [pero] mayroon na lang tayo na 298 percent na congestion rate,” Bustinera said.
(Our jails are still congested, but we now only have a 298-percent congestion rate.)
“Matatandaan natin na umabot yan sa 600 percent. Napababa naman na natin,” he noted.
(We can recall that it once reached 600 percent. We have somewhat lowered this [percentage].)
“Marami na tayong mga ongoing na ipapatayong mga bagong piitan. Out of 484 facilities, may mga 142 tayong bagong tayo na new projects. Maluluwag na,” Bustinera added.
(We have a lot of ongoing construction of new jails. Out of the 484 facilities, we now have around 142 newly-built projects. The spaces are wider.)
READ: COA: PH jails need 550,000 sq m additional space
Dealing with intense heat
The BJMP spokesperson was asked if the bureau has any plans given the intense heat inside the prisons this summer.
“Bilang pansamantalang pagtugon sa init, ipinag utos ng aming chief BJMP ang retrofitting ng ating mga exhaust fans, mga pagdadagdag ng mga bentilador sa ating mga kulungan,” Bustinera said.
(As a temporary response to the heat, our chief BJMP ordered the retrofitting of exhaust fans [and] the addition of electric fans in our jails.)
READ: ‘Dangerous’ heat index seen in 26 areas — Pagasa
“Kaakibat na rin yung early procurement ng aming mga medicines at mga panlunas sa mga summer-related diseases,” he added.
(This also includes the early procurement of our medicines and remedies for summer-related diseases.)
Hypertension and skin diseases are the most prevalent illnesses observed among PDLs amid the sweltering heat.
