Manila Bulletin
Philippines
BJMP celebrates 'remarkable' year marked by improved conditions for inmates
Philippines
BJMP celebrates 'remarkable' year marked by improved conditions for inmates
BJMP celebrates 'remarkable' year marked by improved conditions for inmates
Published Dec 30, 2019 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
In what it described as a remarkable 2019, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said it made significant strides in its efforts to improve the jail system, indicated by an increase in the number of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) who benefited from the agency’s welfare and development programs.
BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan Iral
(BJMP / MANILA BULLETIN) BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan Iral commended jail personnel for a successful year: “While we were confronted with lots of challenges this year, I am humbled by the cooperation and efforts of my colleagues in ensuring the security and welfare of PDL under our care.” Iral also expressed his deep appreciation of his subordinates, especially those assigned to the field, for dutifully responding to the challenges set by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año in addressing the problem of jail congestion, providing quality jail management services, and ensuring personnel discipline “while our jails and offices are sealed from illegal drugs and radicalization.” In the coming years, Iral said the BJMP will continue its capacity building efforts while ensuring that all personnel are at their best possible mental, physical, and psychological state when performing their duties and functions. One of this year’s highlights was the enrollment of at least 136,046 PDL, or around 94% of the total jail population, in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), while 8,045 completed vocational and technical training. The inmates’ participation in educational programs not only educates them in a particular field of knowledge but also helps them regain their self-esteem while maintaining a positive disposition, BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said. He cited the case of Jumar Ullang, a former PDL of Isabela City Jail who finished high school while in jail through the ALS before his case was dismissed for lack of merit. Ullang is now is a registered criminologist and hopes to become a jail officer soon. Solda said the PDL are also involved in various livelihood programs such as making decorations and furniture, dressmaking, handicrafts, printing and painting, upcycling of scrap materials, and weaving. Last February, bags handmade by PDL in Montevista District Jail were showcased at London Fashion Week through Davao de Oro-based designer Cherie Lou Aranjuez, while the woven baskets of Angeles District Jail used by Emma Tiglao in the Bb. Pilipinas 2019 competition impressed the judges, helping her win Best National Costume and also the title Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019. Some 125,238 PDL are engaged in different livelihood programs in jails where they are earning money which they extend to their families outside. As of December 2019, a total of 134,480 PDL are under the care of the BJMP in 467 district, city, and municipal jails across the country, with a nationwide congestion rate of 438 percent. Solda said “This is a bit lower compared to 136,314 in 2018, with 439 percent congestion rate.” One of the factors for the slight reduction of the congestion rate in the BJMP jails is the completion of 13 new jail facilities and the expanded paralegal support service program. In terms of cleaning the facilities of contraband, 75,922 Greyhound Operations were conducted nationwide, of which 3,443 were conducted jointly with personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police. Solda said through these operations, they confiscated 3.04 grams of shabu, 21.14 grams of marijuana, 354 packs of cigarettes, 4,492 pieces of improvised weapons and scrap metals, 238 electronic gadgets, and P80,547 in cash. He said the quantity of illegal drugs confiscated during Greyhound Operations was far too low compared to the 374.51grams of shabu and 29 grams of marijuana confiscated from 11 visitors by vigilant personnel at the gates of BJMP facilities. Appropriate cases have already been filed against those visitors, which were mostly females. “We want the PDL to be reformed while ensuring that our jails and offices are drug-free zones,” Iral said. “We will continue to hit hard not only on PDL but most especially on personnel to clean our ranks.” This year, 11 erring jail personnel were dismissed from service for illegal drug use. While the current BJMP administration is serious in enforcing discipline among personnel, it also acknowledged deserving personnel by promoting 1,759 to the next higher rank and issuing 2,573 medals and commendations. “We want to complement the efforts of our deserving personnel with the proper recognitions they deserved,” Iral said. He added that the efforts of all jail officers contributed to the significant achievements of the BJMP for 2019. “This is the same reason why we are trying our best to organize dialogues with personnel especially those assigned in far flung provinces.” Iral is the first BJMP chief to visit Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi jails. Last October, the BJMP’s Accounting Service Office was, for the first time, recognized as one of the Outstanding Accounting Service Offices in the country by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines for its transparency and compliance in all of its financial transactions. The BJMP was also cited by the Dangerous Drugs Board last November for its strong commitment to support the government’s anti-drug campaigns, while the Presidential Communications Operations Office lauded the bureau as one of the top performing agencies in the implementation of the Freedom of Information Policy and the sole awardee among the ten DILG line agencies. “This does not include the commendation from Civil Service Commission (CSC) Central Office during the public service delivery surveillance conducted by Commissioner Eileen Lizada in Region 12, wherein the BJMP Regional Office was the only government office that passed with flying colors among the government offices they visited,” Solda said. Another first for the BJMP this year was their attendance at the First National Paralegal Conference of paralegal officers that enhanced the paralegal and jail records servicing of the agency, and the policy initiative on BJMP Minimum Deployment Standards, an evidence-based tool that sets procedures for the effective placement of personnel in BJMP offices and jail units. Both are in partnership with the ICRC Philippines. “The BJMP also managed to roll out pioneering information technology projects this year -- the Actual Strength Inventory, which is a digital personnel management tool made to ensure the accurate listing and strength of BJMP rank and file, as well as the implementation of the Retirement, Terminal Leave, and Other Monetary Benefits Calculator, a web-based module that is integrated in the ePayslip that gives all BJMP personnel the capability to compute their own retirement gratuity, terminal leave benefits, and monthly pension amount,” Solda said. “Simply put, everyone is working hard not just to improve our public service delivery but simplify our systems to ease every office transaction we are doing with the public particularly in frontline services.” Iral said. “This goes the same with the support we are extending to our personnel. In fact, it is also this year that we stepped up our mental health programs wherein we not only cater PDL but also our colleagues who need interventions.” Recently, the BJMP passed its ISO 9001-2015 surveillance audit and was recognized by the CSC as Level 2 on PRIME-HRM or the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management, which covers recruitment, selection, and placement, learning and development, performance management, and reward and recognition. “There are so many challenges confronting us but with the support and cooperation of every personnel and the public, we can do more and we can do better in achieving the bureau’s vision,” Iral said.
BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan Iral(BJMP / MANILA BULLETIN) BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan Iral commended jail personnel for a successful year: “While we were confronted with lots of challenges this year, I am humbled by the cooperation and efforts of my colleagues in ensuring the security and welfare of PDL under our care.” Iral also expressed his deep appreciation of his subordinates, especially those assigned to the field, for dutifully responding to the challenges set by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año in addressing the problem of jail congestion, providing quality jail management services, and ensuring personnel discipline “while our jails and offices are sealed from illegal drugs and radicalization.” In the coming years, Iral said the BJMP will continue its capacity building efforts while ensuring that all personnel are at their best possible mental, physical, and psychological state when performing their duties and functions. One of this year’s highlights was the enrollment of at least 136,046 PDL, or around 94% of the total jail population, in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), while 8,045 completed vocational and technical training. The inmates’ participation in educational programs not only educates them in a particular field of knowledge but also helps them regain their self-esteem while maintaining a positive disposition, BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said. He cited the case of Jumar Ullang, a former PDL of Isabela City Jail who finished high school while in jail through the ALS before his case was dismissed for lack of merit. Ullang is now is a registered criminologist and hopes to become a jail officer soon. Solda said the PDL are also involved in various livelihood programs such as making decorations and furniture, dressmaking, handicrafts, printing and painting, upcycling of scrap materials, and weaving. Last February, bags handmade by PDL in Montevista District Jail were showcased at London Fashion Week through Davao de Oro-based designer Cherie Lou Aranjuez, while the woven baskets of Angeles District Jail used by Emma Tiglao in the Bb. Pilipinas 2019 competition impressed the judges, helping her win Best National Costume and also the title Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019. Some 125,238 PDL are engaged in different livelihood programs in jails where they are earning money which they extend to their families outside. As of December 2019, a total of 134,480 PDL are under the care of the BJMP in 467 district, city, and municipal jails across the country, with a nationwide congestion rate of 438 percent. Solda said “This is a bit lower compared to 136,314 in 2018, with 439 percent congestion rate.” One of the factors for the slight reduction of the congestion rate in the BJMP jails is the completion of 13 new jail facilities and the expanded paralegal support service program. In terms of cleaning the facilities of contraband, 75,922 Greyhound Operations were conducted nationwide, of which 3,443 were conducted jointly with personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police. Solda said through these operations, they confiscated 3.04 grams of shabu, 21.14 grams of marijuana, 354 packs of cigarettes, 4,492 pieces of improvised weapons and scrap metals, 238 electronic gadgets, and P80,547 in cash. He said the quantity of illegal drugs confiscated during Greyhound Operations was far too low compared to the 374.51grams of shabu and 29 grams of marijuana confiscated from 11 visitors by vigilant personnel at the gates of BJMP facilities. Appropriate cases have already been filed against those visitors, which were mostly females. “We want the PDL to be reformed while ensuring that our jails and offices are drug-free zones,” Iral said. “We will continue to hit hard not only on PDL but most especially on personnel to clean our ranks.” This year, 11 erring jail personnel were dismissed from service for illegal drug use. While the current BJMP administration is serious in enforcing discipline among personnel, it also acknowledged deserving personnel by promoting 1,759 to the next higher rank and issuing 2,573 medals and commendations. “We want to complement the efforts of our deserving personnel with the proper recognitions they deserved,” Iral said. He added that the efforts of all jail officers contributed to the significant achievements of the BJMP for 2019. “This is the same reason why we are trying our best to organize dialogues with personnel especially those assigned in far flung provinces.” Iral is the first BJMP chief to visit Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi jails. Last October, the BJMP’s Accounting Service Office was, for the first time, recognized as one of the Outstanding Accounting Service Offices in the country by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines for its transparency and compliance in all of its financial transactions. The BJMP was also cited by the Dangerous Drugs Board last November for its strong commitment to support the government’s anti-drug campaigns, while the Presidential Communications Operations Office lauded the bureau as one of the top performing agencies in the implementation of the Freedom of Information Policy and the sole awardee among the ten DILG line agencies. “This does not include the commendation from Civil Service Commission (CSC) Central Office during the public service delivery surveillance conducted by Commissioner Eileen Lizada in Region 12, wherein the BJMP Regional Office was the only government office that passed with flying colors among the government offices they visited,” Solda said. Another first for the BJMP this year was their attendance at the First National Paralegal Conference of paralegal officers that enhanced the paralegal and jail records servicing of the agency, and the policy initiative on BJMP Minimum Deployment Standards, an evidence-based tool that sets procedures for the effective placement of personnel in BJMP offices and jail units. Both are in partnership with the ICRC Philippines. “The BJMP also managed to roll out pioneering information technology projects this year -- the Actual Strength Inventory, which is a digital personnel management tool made to ensure the accurate listing and strength of BJMP rank and file, as well as the implementation of the Retirement, Terminal Leave, and Other Monetary Benefits Calculator, a web-based module that is integrated in the ePayslip that gives all BJMP personnel the capability to compute their own retirement gratuity, terminal leave benefits, and monthly pension amount,” Solda said. “Simply put, everyone is working hard not just to improve our public service delivery but simplify our systems to ease every office transaction we are doing with the public particularly in frontline services.” Iral said. “This goes the same with the support we are extending to our personnel. In fact, it is also this year that we stepped up our mental health programs wherein we not only cater PDL but also our colleagues who need interventions.” Recently, the BJMP passed its ISO 9001-2015 surveillance audit and was recognized by the CSC as Level 2 on PRIME-HRM or the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management, which covers recruitment, selection, and placement, learning and development, performance management, and reward and recognition. “There are so many challenges confronting us but with the support and cooperation of every personnel and the public, we can do more and we can do better in achieving the bureau’s vision,” Iral said.