9,000 inmates to benefit from P7-M projects
ROXAS CITY – A P7-million worth of project that would benefit the country’s inmates is set to be implemented this year.
The joint initiative covers the establishment of the multi-million peso worth of micro-infrastructure projects, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpus disclosed in an online news.
The project is part of the government’s effort to improve the living conditions of inmates, Corpus said, adding that recently the department’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has forged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly undertake said project.
The MOU on Upgrading Penal Infrastructure and BJMP Logistical Needs was signed by BJMP chief Jail Director Rosendo M. Dial and ICRC Deputy head of delegation Cristoph Sutter, with ICRC Water and Habitat coordinator Engr. Marco Albertini and BJMP Directorate for Logistics head J/Supt. Arnulfo Obias as witnesses.
He said that the micro-infrastructure projects are expected to benefit some 9,423 inmates in selected district, city and municipal jail nationwide.
Expected to be completed by December 31 this year, said project is set to be implemented in Metro manila District Jail and in the city jails of Manila, Parañaque, Canlaon, Guihulgan, Cebu, Tacloban, Iligan, Valencia, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Panabo, General Santos, Surigao and Butuan.
The projects include the installation of water supply, sanitation, ventilation, improvement of physical facilities and putting up of bio-digesters in the target jail beneficiaries.
Part of the agreement is the conduct of three technical trainings for BJMP engineers and staff in charge of jail maintenance and rehabilitation in Luzon and NCR, Visayas and Mindanao this year.
Last year, the ICRC funneled in P3.5-million for the water supply, sanitation and biofuel projects of jails in Regions 4A, NCR, 9 and 12, benefitting around 8,000 detainees, the DILG press report said.
Likewise, in 2007, it implemented P3.59-million worth or projects which benefited around 7,951 inmates in Regions 9, 11, 12, 13 and NCR. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)