
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has started conducting tuberculosis tests on persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
BuCor Deputy Director General Gabriel P. Chaclag said on Tuesday, April 12, that the bureau started conducting tests last Monday, April 11, even if there is no TB outbreak in NBP.
“Regular program po ng BuCor Health Service (This is a regular program of the BuCor Health Service),” Chaclag said as he noted that “Nagawa na din po dati yan (It has been done before).”
He said TB tests were not conducted lately because of the pandemic which forced BuCor to concentrate on Covid-19 in all its prison facilities.
Aside from the PDLs, Chaclag said that BuCor personnel will also undergo TB tests.
There are about 200 PDLs who are being treated for TB, he added.