By Chito Chavez The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed that placing all provincial jails under the control and supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was “needed and timely’’. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN) DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año made this assessment as the department gave full support to a bill authored by Senator Ronaldo Dela Rosa, which seeks to transfer control and supervision of all provincial and sub-provincial jails from the provincial government to the BJMP. "It's just logical that all provincial jails in the country be integrated under BJMP as this will prompt a more standard implementation of policies for our jails,” said Año. "Panahon na din para ilagak ang pangangasiwa ng mga bilangguan sa bansa sa BJMP ((It is about time to give the BJMP authority to supervise these jails in the country). This will result in more professionally-run provincial jails,’’ he added. Records from the BJMP showed that of the 74 provincial jails nationwide, 13 provincial jails are now being supervised and manned by the BJMP by virtue of a memorandum of agreement between the LGUs and the provincial governments. Meanwhile, seven provinces have no provincial jails and utilize the BJMP district jails for their requirements. Año said Dela Rosa's proposed bill, once passed and approved, will facilitate better management of provincial jails under competent and highly trained personnel of BJMP thereby "maximizing the Bureau's resources for efficient delivery of basic services for our persons deprived of liberty (PDLs)." The DILG noted though the provincial government has been coping with the challenges of managing provincial and sub-provincial jails, it was irrefutable that the overall national standard of jail management could still be improved once all jails are lodged under BJMP, one of DILG's attached-agencies. He added there were reports of escapes in local government unit-ran jails due to ill-trained personnel and inadequate facilities. "As the national government continually earmarks more budget to the BJMP to address pressing issues such as congestion, placing provincial jails under the Bureau's care can only lead to improved services for our PDLs," he added. According to Dela Rosa's Senate Bill No. 1100, local jails under two different authorities "hinders the advancement of a national standard in operational management of all local jails that gears toward more effective rehabilitation of inmates." The DILG chief explained with the transfer of the 61 provincial jails with a total jail population of 32,940 to the BJMP, adequate support such as hiring and training additional 14,573 jail officers will be considered to man the said jails. The DILG, through the BJMP, will be ready to implement this immediately once this bill is passed," he concluded.