BACOLOD City – In response to severe overcrowding at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) male dormitory in Barangay Singcang-Airport, local officials have proposed relocating the facility to Barangay Granada.
The plan was disclosed after Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s unexpected jail visit on Saturday, accompanied by Singcang-Airport’s Punong Barangay Caesar Distrito, who also acts as the mayor’s spokesman, and former city councilor Homer Bais.
During his visit, Mayor Benitez observed the dire conditions faced by the approximately 700 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) housed in a facility built for 300.
The overcrowding has been exacerbated by the scorching heat from the El Niño phenomenon.
Distrito reported that the jail, which is currently situated on a small property owned by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and used temporarily by the BJMP, desperately needs a more spacious and permanent location.
Mayor Benitez emphasized the need for the humane treatment of the PDLs, noting that they deserve livable conditions as they are still presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He expressed concern over the degrading and pitiful state of their current living conditions.
To address these issues, the mayor has suggested relocating the BJMP facility to a newly acquired hectare of land in Barangay Granada.
This move would not only provide PDLs with adequate space but also opportunities for gardening and other livelihood activities, potentially improving their quality of life.
The city also operates another BJMP facility in Barangay Handumanan, which houses the female dormitory./PN
