Raising the standard of jail facilities

At least 11 detention facilities are expected to be constructed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology across Central Visayas this year to solve the worsening problem on jail congestion in the region.

The need to build additional jail facilities comes after data revealed that the region is now facing a jail congestion problem rate of 800 percent. This is due to the authorities' intensified operation against crimes, especially the illegal drug trade.

The construction will be in coordination with local government unit of the host town or city. Weeks ago, the BJMP-7 inaugurated a four-story facility in Lapu-Lapu City. Today, it will open a new jail building in Talibon, Bohol.

At least the authorities have started to feel the need to solve the problem of jail congestion across the country. It cannot be denied that many detainees are living in harsh condition as they compete for space inside prisons.

Aside from congestion, another problem is the meager food allocation for detainees from the government. Every BJMP detainee has a food budget of P60 a day, which can hardly satisfy the stomach at P20 per meal.

That is why it is no longer unusual for the jail management to seek the help of the local government. Last year, the Cebu City Jail management asked the city government to help fund the inmates' food allocation following concerns of delayed budget from the national BJMP headquarters.

Congestion and scant food budget for detainees are just two of the problems the jail authorities are facing. This reality has been in existence for decades and is bound to continue as the government lacks the funds to improve those conditions.

Still, the construction of more detention centers in Central Visayas is good news. This will only mean the government is slowly addressing the problem in the effort to elevate the standard of the country's jails.