Focus on detainees’ reintegration, BJMP urged

A LAWMAKER has called on the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to focus on the implementation of its reintegration programs for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) despite having a small increase in its 2024 budget.

For this year, BJMP’s budget was raised to P23.87 billion, a 7 percent, or P1.54 billion, increase from last year’s P22.33 billion.

Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said strengthening BJMP’s reintegration programs will help decongest the overpopulated district, city and municipal jails under its supervision and that it should provide PDLs with opportunities to become productive individuals after detention.

He said that around 85 percent, or P20.26 billion, of BJMP’s budget is allocated for the custody, safekeeping and rehabilitation of PDLs under its care.

“Providing targeted, appropriate interventions to PDLs while they are in the custody of the BJMP will help prevent them from becoming recidivists or repeat offenders,” Yamsuan said.

He said that these interventions will help ease overcrowding in BJMP’s jail facilities.

According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which supervises the BJMP, the bureau’s congestion rate from January to October 2023 was 348 percent, lower than the 367 percent recorded in the same period in 2022.

Yamsuan said that the BJMP’s reintegration strategy should be a “whole of society” approach that is meant to facilitate the assimilation and adjustment of PDLs in the community.

Among the plans to decongest jails is assisting released PDLS in finding jobs and even temporary housing, as well as the efficient implementation of the “Single Carpeta Project System,” a nationwide comprehensive case monitoring and information system that tracks the status and progress of cases of PDLs from one agency to another.

Yamsuan said there should be a more sustainable and long-term solution to jail congestion and improving the welfare of PDLs, such as the unification of a fragmented correctional system, part of his proposed House Bill 8672.