City district jail congested

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Like any other jails in the country, the Iloilo City District Jail in Ungka, Jaro is 380 percent congested as the number of inmates remitted for correction increased.

Chief Inspector Amelito Fuentes, district jail warden said the capacity of the jail is only 150-200 prisoners. However, there are already are 633 inmates.

Fuentes attributed the jail congestion to the rise in the number of drug cases where the accused are not allowed to bail. He also cited that the use of surety bonds was disallowed years back. This deprived those whose offenses were qualified to bail but could not afford to pay to gain temporary liberty.

Fuentes recommended that additional jail cells should be constructed to accommodate the growing number of inmates. He estimated the cost of the additional jail cells to P3 million.

In the action plan of the Iloilo City District Jail, the agency hopes to construct the additional jails cells in 2006 to 2010. The implementation of the program will depend on the allocation and availability of funds.

Aside from the congested jail, they are also looking forward to prevent the escape of inmates and their reformation while inside the jail. They also want to prevent outbreaks of disease in the jail.

The construction of additional jail cells is one solution presented by the BJMP to the City Peace and Order Council meeting held recently. Another would be the releasing of prisoners subject to the provisions of the law to include the granting of parole and probation status and thru bail.

On his part, Mayor Jerry Treñas said he is contemplating of constructing a new building in the jail's compound or provide a second floor to the existing infrastructure. He has already requested for the project estimates.

Treñas is also entertaining the idea of sharing the facility of the Iloilo Provincial Jail. The Iloilo Provincial Jail is constructed in the city's business area. It is near Iloilo provincial capitol and soon be transferred outside the city.

The mayor said he would discuss the idea with Gov. Niel Tupas. If the plan realizes, the city will just increase its budget on food. Every year the city government provides P500, 000 for the food subsidy of the inmates, said Treñas.