October 13, 2018

By
Joel dela Torre

People's Journal
THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has institutionalized a program to strengthen the
rehabilitation of inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
BJMP chief Director Deogracias Tapayan said the rehab program “Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK)” is a
community-based psycho-education intervention designed for persons with substance use disorder (PSUD).
PSUD comprise a significant bulk of the jail population nationwide at 100,297.
Adapted from the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP), Tapayan said the program is a firm support to the
national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

“It is our commitment to enhance our institution-based rehab program among our PDL. We make sure that the program
is responsive and appropriate with the needs of our clients,”Tapayan explained.

KKDK is being used as the main intervention program under the BJMP’s aftercare services which aims to prepare PDL with
substance use disorder for their successful return to the community.

Under the KKDK program, PDL are taught to handle life difficulties without resorting to drug use.

In the last quarter of 2017, the BJMP started the pilot testing of the modular intervention program to selected “low to
mild risk” PDL drug users in Pagbilao District Jail and Marilao Municipal Jail.
After the success of KKDK initial test and comprehensive training of facilitators, the BJMP has firmed up a schedule of the
simultaneous conduct of the modular program to 80 PDL from facilities such as Makati City Jail, Marikina City Jail,
Olongapo City Jail, Quezon District Jail and Gumaca District Jail.

Recently, 17 PDL from Marikina City Jail graduated from the program while 19 others from Olongapo District Jail are set
to finish the same program on October 23.

Some Random Thoughts

By By Atty. Romulo P. Atencia

The problem of jail congestion
posted 15-Aug-2012 ·
3,784 views · 1 comments ·
like
8
Due to overcrowding in our jails, detainees take shifts in their sleeping routines not only because of the lack of beddings
but also because of lack of space. They were considered lucky enough if they slept on the floor, even without a mat, pillow
or blanket. With the jammed jail cells, diseases, particularly skin infections are widespread.

*****

The Caloocan City Jail eloquently illustrates the problem of jail congestion. The Caloocan City Jail, like other penitentiary
across the Philippines is extremely overcrowded. The detention center has an ideal capacity of 136 inmates, yet the Bureau
of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) managed to fit in 1,665 people. It is congested by 1124 percent. Jail congestion
is one of the biggest problems of the BJMP. According to statistics obtained from the BJMP website, there are 20,497
inmates detained in the National Capital Region alone in a facility meant for 5,926 people. Jails in Metro Manila are
congestedby almost 1000 percent. The nationwide congestion rate is much "looser" at 225 percent congestion or an average
of four to five inmates per square meter. The figures were based on the ideal ratio of three square meters for every one
inmate.

Understanding Prison Management in the Philippines: A

Case for Shared Governance
Article (PDF Available) in The Prison Journal

Naymund E. Narag1 and Clarke R. Jones2

Current prison management models strictly prohibit inmates from assisting with
prison administration or governance. This is feasible in developed countries
where governments can provide adequate resources, security, and personnel.
It is not, however, realistic in developing countries like the Philippines, which
is characterized by poverty, corruption, and underresourcing of correctional
facilities. In such circumstances, inmate leaders tend to share governance with
prison administrators. Despite occurring out of necessity, not by design, this
system normalizes social conditions within a prison. This article examines the
ramifications of such a shared governance model for correctional management
by means of ethnographic research
BJMP-8 becomes resourceful to feed inmates amid
food price hikes
By Sarwell Meniano September 6, 2018, 5:49 pm

TACLOBAN CITY -- With a budget of only PHP60 per inmate, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Eastern
Visayas (BJMP-8) admitted that it is a big headache to feed all prisoners with the increase in food prices.

BJMP Eastern Visayas assistant regional director Jail Supt. Manuel Chan said they have to be resourceful to make sure
that no one among the 2,964 prisoners will go hungry.

The PHP60 food budget covers the expense for 400 grams of rice for each one, fish or meat, vegetables, spices, firewood
or gas for cooking, and transport cost of food from the market to jail facilities.

“The hardest was the time when there was no supply of cheaper rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) for two
months. We have to buy stocks from private traders at a higher price. We really have to adjust due to increasing prices,”
Chan told reporters in a press briefing Thursday.

The BJMP buys a sack of rice at PHP2,500 per sack from private traders, way up than the PHP1,600 selling price of NFA.
For the Tacloban City jail alone, the BJMP needs 320 bags of rice each month.

Jail facilities and the disaster response of the Department of Social Welfare and Development are the two priorities of NFA
in allocating its supply. The grains agency in Eastern Visayas has been receiving shipments of 480,000 bags from
Thailand since last month.

High inflation rate forced BJMP personnel to feed prisoners with a cup of coffee and two rolls of small bread for breakfast
in some days.
From January to July 2018, the region’s average inflation rate rose to 5.3 percent, more than the 3.4 percent recorded in
the same period last year. For July alone, inflation surged to 5.9 percent from 3.2 percent a year ago.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages posted the highest inflation hike among commodities at 8.2 percent in July, higher
than the 7.9 percent in June, and 7.3 percent in May.

Adding to the problem are the heavily congested jails. As of this week, the 23 BJMP-managed jails registered a
congestion rate of 700 percent, meaning cells have been accommodating inmates seven times their capacity.

Under the United Nation’s standard, a prisoner should have a living space of 4.70 square meters, but in the region, each
prisoner has an allotted space of 0.75 square meter.

The most overcrowded is the jail in Catbalogan City with congestion rate of 1,500 percent. Congestion problem is also
serious in jail cells of Tacloban City; Dolores, Eastern Samar; Baybay City; San Juan, Southern Leyte; Ormoc City; Basey,
Samar; Maasin City; and Sogod, Southern Leyte.

Most inmates have been jailed due to drug-related charges. Primarily, its clients are detainees accused before a court,
undergoing investigation, awaiting final judgment and those who are serving three years and below sentence. (PNA)

BJMP swears in 1,000 jail officers to address lack of personnel

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1010691/bjmp-swears-in-1000-jail-officers-to-address-lack-of-

personnel#ixzz5xERpFab0
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
By: Gabriel Pabico Lalu - Reporter / @GabrielLaluINQ
INQUIRER.net / 03:17 PM July 16, 2018
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1010691/bjmp-swears-in-1000-jail-officers-to-address-lack-of-
personnel#ixzz5xERxgqFM
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

A total of 1,043 jail officers from different Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) regional wings took their
oaths of office simultaneously to minimize the shortage of their personnel.
“With an annual regular quota of 500 recruits in the previous years, the BJMP for the first time pushed for the approval of
increase on the recruitment quota from 500 to 1000 jail officers,” BJMP Chief Jail Director Deogracias Tapayan said in a
statement on Monday.

Overcrowded PH jails housing over 146,000 inmates, above 20k capacity: COA
Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jul 03 2018 11:43 AM | Updated as of Jul 03 2018 11:49 AM

MANILA - The Commission on Audit flagged the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for the worsening
condition inside jails across the country.

In its 2017 report, COA said occupancy rate in prison facilities in the country have reached 612%, with a total jail population
of 146,302 inmates, far too high for the 20,653 capacity.

“The jail populations for the rear recorded an increase in various months due to the number of drug-related cases in the
country as well as the court’s slow action or inaction on the pending cases,” COA said.
CONGESTION

BJMP Director for Operations J/Supt. Noel Pimentel Montalvo earlier confirmed Philippine jails, many of which house more
than 5 times their capacity, do not meet United Nations standards.

Each jail inmate should be given at least 4.7 square meters of space, according to the UN.

Under this standard, only 21,342 inmates could be accommodated in Philippine jails, which have a total floor space of
100,315 sqm, he said