BJMP officials ask city for help on jail pollution

The management of Cebu City Jail Male Dormitory has asked the city government to deploy sanitary inspection officers from the City Health Office to assess the health impact of the pollution issues of the facility due to the lingering problem on untreated waste water.

In a letter dated August 28, Cebu City Jail Male Dormitory Warden Renante Rubio asked the Cebu City Government to assist them in addressing the problem, since several residents in Barangay Kalunasan have complained of the foul odor.

“We respectfully and humbly request sanitary inspections from our City Health Office for all the jail facilities, if necessary, to assess the health impact of pollution issues,” Rubio said.

His letter was addressed to City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the council’s committee on peace and order.

Rubio also asked the city to assign at least two pollution officers connected with the city’s Department of Public Services to act on the environmental concerns of the jail facilities, as well as the residential areas surrounding or near the jails.

He added that they conduct regular stakeholders meeting with the Kalunasan Barangay Council every quarter to discuss the issue.

The assistance from the city government is needed while waiting for the contractor to implement and improve the water treatment facility of the male dormitory, Rubio said.

He said the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center was also told to improve its water treatment facility.

Rubio said jails have been regularly dislodging their septic tanks to get rid of the untreated wastewater.

Tumulak, for his part, vowed that the city government will assist the jail facilities in addressing the problem, since the residents living near the jail facilities have been complaining because of the stench.

“Usa sa factor ani nga daghan na kaayo ang piniriso. Every week, sige na ta og habwa sa septic tank kay overpopulated na atong city jail,” he said.

Tumulak said the inmates were also requested to prevent from damaging the sewerage system as they received reports that inmates throw their unused shirts which cause the clogging of the sewerage facilities.

He said residents in the area complained that untreated wastewater from the jail facilities will go directly to the creek in the area.

“On and off gyud ni nga problema dinha. Ang syudad nangayo pod og tabang sa BJMP para bantayan ang septic tank ug mga facilities sa sulod sa prisohan,” he added.