By Jennifer P. Rendon
Unlike the National Bilibid Prisons in Metro Manila where some high-profile inmates were reported to have died from COVID-19, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Region 6 (BJMP-6) declared that all 38 detention facilities in the region remain free of the infection.
“Despite the threat brought by the COVID-19, the BJMP personnel continue to perform their duty and responsibilities and all jails across the region are maintained to be a COVID-free facility,” according to Jail Senior Superintendent Baby Noel Montalvo, BJMP-6 regional director, during the 29th BJMP celebration on Tuesday at Smallville 21 Hotel in Iloilo City.
While a BJMP personnel assigned at the regional office was one of the first confirmed COVID cases in the region, jail facilities were shielded from SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease, after the agency instituted strict measures on visitation and personnel who report to work.
Meanwhile, Montalvo commended BJMP-6 personnel for their accomplishments in the past year.
He cited 6,539 greyhound operations that led to the confiscation of 19,816 contrabands from the jails.
Also, 28 of the 38 jails in the region were already certified by the Regional Oversight Committee (ROC), which is chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), as drug-cleared facilities.
Montalvo also announced the construction of new jail facilities which will cost ₱196,582,000.
Five new detention facilities were completed and there are ongoing projects to improve existing jails.
The celebration was themed “Mahusay na Pamamahala sa Piitan, Matatag na Kabalikat sa Pampublikong Kaligtasan.”
The celebration also recognized BJMP-6’s accomplishments in the 4G Management of the bureau – Guard the Gate, Guard the Badge, Guard the Purse, and Guard the Life.
BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral, who was the virtual guest speaker, commended the sacrifices of the BJMP personnel in serving the people.
“Hindi biro ang magmahal at maglingkod sa bayan. I take note the names of the personnel who work in the name of service and never thought of living their jobs but instead they chose to fight and continue serving” Iral said.
