KALIBO, Aklan — Persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Aklan District Jail have yet to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Jail Inspector Joel Laquihon said the BJMP has asked Gov. Florencio Miraflores and the Provincial Health Office-Aklan to include the PDLs in the vaccination program.
“Ang mga senior citizens at persons with comorbidities ang uunahin natin sa vaccination pag-available na ang vaccines,” he said.
There are 135 PDLs in the male dormitory and eight in the female dormitory of the Aklan District Jail in Barangay Nalook here.
The provincial government started administering COVID-19 vaccines in March to healthcare workers, the elderly, persons with comorbidities and economic frontliners.
Among the BJMP staff, 22 out of 23 already got COVID-19 vaccine shots.
In addition, BJMP Aklan District Jail was awarded the Safety Seal by the Department of Interior and Local Government on Aug. 9 for being compliant to the minimum health standards.
“Ang jail facilities natin ay COVID-19-free sa ngayon,” said Laquihon.
Since the start of the pandemic, BJMP has also allowed PDLs to use social media platforms to communicate with their loved ones, relatives and legal counsels./PN
