Defensor okays transfer of IRC management to BJMP
The Iloilo Rehabilitation Center will be placed under the management of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology after a two-year transition period.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. yesterday confirmed that the BJMP wants the IRC, which currently has 736 inmates, to be under its administrative function.
“It is very favorable to us because we could save more than P60 million yearly (when it pushes through),” he told reporters.
Defensor said there would be a transition period so that the transfer will be put in place before the final turn-over.
He said that during the transition period, the maintenance, repair and food allowance of all the inmates will be shouldered by the provincial government.
After that, the full management and budgeting will be turned over to the BJMP.
The governor said, however, the properties and equipment of the IRC will still be recognized as “donated” by the Iloilo provincial government.
“The big amount we could save will help us repair provincial vehicles, hospitals, facilities, purchase medicines and many others that will benefit the public,” he said.
Meanwhile, Defensor said qualified IRC personnel will be absorbed by the BJMP while those who are not will be given time to meet the educational requirements.
At present, the IRC is headed by Atty. Soteo Gardose who oversees 89 jail guards.
Earlier this month, Defensor approved an P10 additional food allowance for inmates.
The inmates currently have a daily food budget of only P50 each for three meals.
Insufficient food allowance has been the main cause of a series of noise barrages staged by several inmates during the previous Capitol administration.
The inmates have also been asking for potable drinking water.*
