This is the kind of news where you don’t know whether you should be happy or sad.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno on Thu, Oct 6, announced that 11 additional jail facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will be constructed this year in the Calabarzon area to counter the jail congestion problem of the country.
“We are now dealing with the jail overcrowding problem head-on,” Sueno said, adding that there was an ongoing bidding process of jail facilities amounting to PHP366 million (around US$7,579,918) for Region IV-A (Calabarzon) which is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
According to BJMP director Chief Supt. Serafin Barreto the additional buildings or facilities will be built on lots already donated to or owned by the BJMP.
“Part pa ng 2015 budget yan, kaya dapat talaga mai-award na ngayong taon (The winning bids should be awarded this year since the funds are still part of the 2015 budget), so they can start the project immediately,” Barreto said.
The additional jail facilities will be built on the male and female dorms of Naic Municipal Jail, Tanza Municipal Jail, Imus City Jail, San Pablo City Jail and Calamba City Jail.
Additional buildings will also be put up in Batangas City Jail, Quezon District Jail, Sta. Cruz District Jail, Los Banos Municipal Jail, Lipa City Jail and Gumaca Municipal Jail.
“With the help of these additional facilities, malaki ang mababawas sa pagsisikip sa mga kulungang ito at tiyak na bababa ang congestion rate ng mga 75% sa nasabing rehiyon (congestion in jails will be reduced greatly and the congestion rate will surely be reduced by 75% in the said region),” DILG Secretary Sueno said.
“Though we recognize the big problem on congestion, the new administration has allotted more budget for the construction of facilities. I assure BJMP that the DILG is at the back supporting,” said Sueno.
Earlier, DILG Undersecretary for public safety Jesus Hinlo said the congestion rate in jails was increasing nationally, with current congestion estimated at around 507 percent due to the increasing number of people being arrested amid the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Aira May Dizon, Philippines News Agency
