The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Wednesday it is pushing decongestion efforts in jails across the country to beat the summer heat, as well as to prevent the spread of diseases among the prisoners.
“Along with these initiative, we had early procurement of medicines and jail equipment that preempted the impact of inflation, including the increasing cost of providing healthcare for our persons deprived of liberty,” BJMP spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera said in an interview by “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”
Bustinera said the iail congestion rate in their facilities is currently at 294 percent, which is an improvement from last year’s 327 percent. He said that new facilities have been built in New Quezon City Jail, in Camp Bagong Diwa, in Mandaluyong City Jail, and in Marawi City Jail.
Apart from ventilation, the BJMP official said inmates were provided access to potable water.
