THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday urged local government units (LGUs) to donate some lots in their areas for the construction of jail facilities.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. made the appeal, even though the congestion rate of jail facilities run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has significantly decreased from 612 percent in 2017 to 387 percent at present.
“We will be asking, requesting the LGUs to possibly donate their lots so we can erect jail facilities. If some do not want to donate, I am thinking about the LGU retaining ownership of the property but would lend this to the BJMP on a long-term (basis)," Abalos said during a press briefing in Camp Crame.
He said the BJMP has allocated PHP6.7 billion "to construct, improve, and repair jail facilities" under its supervision.
Abalos pledged to visit as many BJMP jail facilities as possible to come up with measures that would provide persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with a "very humane environment" during their incarceration.
Meanwhile, he said the DILG is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the digitization of the country's jail system, particularly in harmonizing records of both the BJMP and the Bureau of Corrections.
Abalos assured that the BJMP is fully compliant with rules on the lawful release of PDLs.
He noted that he and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla would bring up the matter of expediting the resolution of cases involving PDLs to Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
He is also pushing for the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in jail alleys to safeguard PDLs and jail personnel and determine whether there are illegal activities taking place in these facilities.
BJMP chief, Jail Director Allan Iral, meanwhile, said the LGUs' gesture of donating lots would go a long way.
“Secretary Benhur (Abalos), being a former local chief executive, will be of great help in convincing our LGUs to donate lots for BJMP facilities," he said.
Iral also cited the need to focus on using plea-bargaining for PDLs and coordinate with the courts to expedite the hearings of their cases.
These measures, he said, would help decongest jails. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
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