Former Vice President Jejomar Binay has proposed the creation of an integrated jail facility for Metro Manila which can accommodate more than 5,000 inmates to address the worsening problem of congestion in local jails.
Binay sent a letter to Acting Local Government Secretary Catalino Cuy, in which he asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to consider reviving a proposal he made in 2005 to set up a facility to house all Metro Manila detainees.
Reports had said that more than dozens of inmates have died due to overcrowding at detention facilities in police stations in Metro Manila since July last year. “Congestion in local jail facilities in Metro Manila has been a long-standing concern for both the local and national authorities. Sadly, no concrete action has been taken and the problem has worsened over the years,”he said.
Binay added that as early as 2005, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology had proposed the establishment of an integrated jail facility for Metro Manila “precisely to address the issue of congestion in the local jails.”
“The said proposal was sent to the mayors of Metro Manila for their comment and as mayor of Makati at that time, I expressed my support,” he added.
“May I recommend that the DILG revisit the said proposal,” Binay said.
The BJMP had proposed the creation of an integrated facility to house Metro Manila's 21 jails, all BJMP offices as well as housing for jail personnel. A 96-hectare property in San Mateo, Rizal was identified as the site, with P300 million estimated as initial allocation for its construction. The site would also have a hospital, school, lodging facilities for visitors, livelihood centers, and a farm. The BJMP had already prepared blueprints for the facility and there were bills filed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives supporting the creation of a jail facility for Metro Manila.
