BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Western Visayas has opened six new jail facilities in Negros Occidental as part of their program to decongest other jail facilities.
BJMP-6 spokesperson, Atty. Jairus Anthony Dogelio, said the BJMP has other facilities in the province, although they cannot yet be opened as they have yet to construct perimeter fences in the said facilities.
Dogelio pointed out that the budget they received is only enough to construct the buildings that would house the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates, and they are still waiting for the additional budget from stakeholders and local government units (LGUs) for the perimeter fences.
He said that based on their building code, there should be a 4.7-square-meter space for each inmate.
The new facilities, all two-storey buildings, are far more standard compared to the previous ones which measure around 4×4 and accommodate at least 30 to 40 PDLs at a time. Because of the overcrowded conditions, the prisoners use hammocks to fully utilize the available space on top.
Dogelio added that the new facilities, which can accommodate 10 PDLs in each cell, will provide some space for the inmates, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing./PN
