BJMP Opposes Privatization Of Jail System
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Chief, Director Rosendo M Dial expressed vehement opposition to the proposed privatization of jail system.
Earlier, the Las Piñas City Bar Association (LPCBA) submitted to the Department of Justice and to the Department of the Interior and Local Government their proposal pushing for the privatization of jail system in the country citing that privatization will address the jail congestion and improve inmates’ living condition.
The BJMP chief, however, believes that such move will not prove beneficial for the inmates and the government. What should be done is for the district, city and municipal jails under the BJMP to pursue an intensified decongestion of jails in coordination with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and other concerned agencies, Dial said. We should also increase paralegal officers and encourage law students volunteers to involve themselves in the declogging of jails. Another option, Dial added, is to construct bigger jail facilities in cooperation with the local government units.
With a 5% annual increase in jail population (61,006 nationwide), Director Dial in coordination with BJMPs Directorate for Logistics came up with a project that will ease inmates living condition. Since the implementation of the UN set standard of ideal space of one inmate per 3 sq.meter is unattainable due to limited space, Dial instead set a pattern of 20 inmates per cell with bunks for to-be constructed BJMP jails. This will be materialized with the construction of the new Malabon City Jail and will be followed by new facilities. Dial added that despite congestion problem, the bureau is making all its effort to provide the best jail service to its clientele – the inmates.
see:
http://www.bjmp.gov.ph/Press%20Releases/20080430_OpposePrivatization.html
