New Mandaluyong jail facility reduces congestion to zero, BJMP says

MANILA, Philippines — The new jail facility in Mandaluyong has reduced congestion levels in the city to zero, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said.

According to BJMP, the inauguration of the New Mandaluyong City Jail located along Maysilo Circle in Mandaluyong’s Barangay Plainview on Tuesday means that 758 male persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and the 101 female PDLs would have a new place to stay.

The new jail, which will have 24 detention cells, is the result of cooperation between BJMP and Mandaluyong City’s local government unit to address the jail congestion problems in the city.

“The construction of this facility tremendously reduced the congestion rate from 722% to  -835%, way more than the ideal zero congestion rate,” BJMP said in a statement.

“Achieving a zero-congestion rate is indeed a milestone for Mandaluyong City Jail. It was only last month when it ranked as the Top 10 Most Congested among the 40 jails in the NCR and number 56 among all 470 facilities nationwide,” BJMP added.

BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral said the project is part of a program aimed at improving living conditions for PDLs — with or without the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor.

“This is the very reason we are here. To exhaust all means to improve the living conditions of our wards. May COVID-19 man o wala,” Iral said.

It should be remembered that the BJMP had to release 15,000 prisoners who had committed minor offenses to decongest jails because health experts feared that crowded and unsanitary detention areas could become a perfect breeding ground for the spread of COVID-19.

READ: Over 15,000 prisoners freed to decongest BJMP jails amid pandemic—DILG 

READ: Virus-hit PH jails: Crisis within a crisis 

BJMP also suspended physical visitations to limit exposure to the disease, urging people to shift to online visitations instead.

READ: BJMP halts visits to some Luzon, Davao jails to avoid coronavirus spread 

Aside from more spaces for PDLs, BJMP said that improvements in the new Mandaluyong City Jail will include an elevated basketball court, a training area for male and female PDLs, a machine room type elevator, louvered building enveloped design and landscaped frontage.

Furthermore, the facility would be fitted with a fire sprinkler system, fire detection and alarms, earthquake recording instrumentation, a standby generator, and automatic security grilles. A CCTV security system would also be installed.

abc