BJMP: Plans to declare Manila City Jail a historical site in progress
By Chito Chavez
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Steps are now being undertaken to declare the Manila City Jail Male Dormitory (MCJMD) as a “historical site’’ owing to its rich history dating back to the Spanish occupation in the country, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) stated.
Once known as “The Old Bilibid Prison and originally as the Carcel y Presidio Correccional’’ during the Spanish colonial era, the MCJMD was built in 1847 under the direction of Governor-General Narciso Clavería.
In 1992, the jail facility was officially turned over to the, but its deep-rooted historical significance remains, an important part of the country's correctional and colonial past.
Recently, MCJMD warden Supt. Lino M. Soriano and other key jail officials conferred with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for the installation of a historical marker and the formal declaration of the facility as a historical area to preserve its rich historical value.
During the meeting, Soriano’s team met with Michelle B. Ting, Architect of the Historic Preservation Division and Miguel Antonio Jimenez, History Researcher of the NHCP.
Jimenez provided a detailed explanation of the necessary requirements for the declaration process and offered alternative options for acquiring specific documents.
He assured NHCP’s willingness to continue assisting and guiding the MCJMD team once all the requirements are completed and submitted.