Due to scorching heat in the country, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. directed all officials of the bureau's prison and penal farms to ensure enough water suppy for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
“We have to drink lots of water, the best defense against the scorching heat,” Catapang said in a statement issued on Thursday, April 4.
On Catapang's instructions, BuCor Health and Welfare Chief CT/SSupt. Ma. Cecilia Villanueva issued a health advisory that asked all Operating Prison and Penal Farms (OPPFs) to ensure the implementation of health programs, services and provision of medicines, including supplements, to prevent diseases and other health conditions among PDLs.
The OPPFs were advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to be watchful for signs and symptoms of diseases prevalent during summer.
“Our facilities are congested and due to the extreme heat that we are experiencing, our PDLs suffered the most, so I want to check on them,” Catapang explained.
In her advisory, Villanueva told OPPFs to have PDLs drink eight to 12 glasses of water everyday and only do outdoor activities early morning and late afternoon; get PDLs, especially senior citizens, vaccinated before the flu season begins in June; food spoil faster during the summer; implement good hygiene to prevent skin diseases; have cats and dogs vaccinated and bathed regularly to prevent spread of diseases; and immediately treat sore eyes since it can lead to blindness.
The BuCor has seven OPPFs -- the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong CIty, the Iwahig Prison and Penal (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa City, the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Occidental Mindoro, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) in Zamboanga City, the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) in Abuyog, Leyte, and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in Panabo City.