BJMP exec says Cainta's vaccination program is worth copying, Here's why
By Chito Chavez
A Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) official urged local government units (LGUs) on Friday, March 5, to emulate the Cainta Municipal government by including persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in their respective coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination programs.
In a face to face interview, BJMP spokesperson and head of the Community Relations Service Office (CRSO) Chief Inspector Xavier Solda cited Cainta for including in its priority list the inoculation of 628 male and 82 female PDLs housed in the local BJMP jail facility.
“Dr. Ed Gonzaga, Municipal Health Officer (Cainta) requested the BJMP about the information and data about the PDLs (in BJMP facilities) kasi plano nila isama mga ito (because they plan to include them (in the COVID-19 vaccination),’’ Solda said.
With the present 17,073 PDL population of the BJMP-manned jails, Solda stressed that it would be a positive development if all of them are vaccinated with COVID-19 jabs to prevent a spike in infections.
“On a personal note, I am willing to be vaccinated even with Sinovac and that goes with BJMP Director Chief Superintendent Allan Iral and other personnel at the BJMP office of the chief,’’ Solda said.
He noted that BJMP frontline health workers in its Ligtas COVID Center (LCC), which holds COVID-19 positive PDLs, will be prioritized when bureau personnel takes its turn to be inoculated.