By Charmaine Odong, PIA-4A
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna–The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region IV-A reported a jail congestion rate of 591 percent, down from 676 percent based on last year’s figures.
In his presentation during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas episode with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agencies, BJMP IV-A Regional Director JCSUPT Hilbert M Flor highlighted that congestion rate in all jail facilities in the region has decreased with remaining 22,421 inmates under their custody.
“We have observed here a significant reduction in the percentage of congestion in our facilities, not only here at BJMP Calabarzon but also nationwide. Our primary program is to lower the congestion rate, as this is one of the main challenges in providing various programs for our Persons Deprived with Liberty (PDL),” Flor said.
To prioritize their well-being, BJMP IV-A has been actively
collaborating with numerous local government units and national government agencies to prepare the PDLs for their reintegration into society.
Flor said that 815 PDLs have undergone training and vocational courses with the assistance of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a way to erase the stigma for detainees once they were released from jails.
Aside from this, 1,908 PDLs passed the Alternative Learning System (ALS) for the year 2023 to 2024, 94 of whom have enrolled in college.
Flor added: “The goal is to eliminate any fear of accepting newly released inmates because they have been provided with technical programs, such as those from TESDA and DICT, and have received certificates proving their readiness to work after their release.”
Recently, additional facilities in the region including the Kanlungan sa Piitan San Pablo City District Jail – Reformatory Center and Morong Municipal Jail were inaugurated as part of the continued decongestion efforts of the bureau.
The jail bureau director then clarified that all jail facilities in Calabarzon are receiving the adequate amount of funding to carry out and implement their programs.
If additional funds are needed, they seek assistance from local government units and other service providers to address the needs of the PDLs.
Meanwhile, Flor urged the public, including the family of PDLs, to refrain from discriminating against the inmates. Instead, encourage and help them to start anew and take a new path after their release.
“They need your support for their transformations, and it is important that you contribute in their positive change.”
The director adds that the reformation of PDLs are also in the hands of their families and friends and to further discourage them from doing inappropriate and illegal behavior such as trafficking contraband inside the jails.
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