DELA ROSA BATS FOR BJMP MANAGEMENT OVER ALL JAIL FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY

SENATOR Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa is pushing to transfer the control and supervision of provincial and sub-provincial jails to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in efforts to improve the existing penal system in the country and ensure the adequate and efficient protection of prisoners and detainees.

In his Senate Bill No. 1100, Dela Rosa said that the transfer of management over all the detention facilities in the country will result to a uniform and standard set of policies and guidelines in the administration of local jails. Also, it will realize the advancement of the welfare of inmates and detainees.

"Our proposed measure aims to implement a uniformed, undeviating standard in the implementation of existing policies and guidelines with regard to the administration of our detention facilities. This way, we could ensure a high probability of success in the reformation of our Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs)," Dela Rosa said. In a separate Act that strengthens the Bureau of Corrections (RA 10575), the inmates are expected to undergo a reformation program that will enrich them morally and spiritually; provide them with education and training, work and livelihood, sports and recreation, health

and a comprehensive behavior modification program that includes a therapeutic community.

At present, local jails are under the jurisdiction of two different authorities wherein the city, municipal and district jails are under the BJMP while the provincial and sub-provincial jails are under the concerned provincial government. Such set-up, Dela Rosa pointed out, hinders the advancement of a national standard in the operational management of all local jails which is geared towards a more effective rehabilitation of inmates.

"Our bill will amend certain provisions of Republic Act 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990... this will also help in ensuring the efficacy of our reformation programs for PDLs and an improvement in the administration of our detention facilities," Dela Rosa explained.

Government agencies assigned to supervise and run the country's jail facilities have been draped with controversy in the past weeks following a series of investigations that started with the alleged questionable granting of GCTA to PDLs, which then brought to the Senate's attention other issues on alleged irregularities inside the jails.