Lack of water delays transfer of BBRC inmates

The regional director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology yesterday said that the scheduled transfer of the inmates from the old Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center in Lahug to its new facility in barangay Kalunasan might be deferred indefinitely because of the problem of water supply.

BJMP regional director Benito Dorigo admitted that until now they have no definite water source to supply for the needs of the 2,500 BBRC inmates expected transferred to Kalunasan at the end of the month.

Dorigo said that they are expecting to temporarily tap the water supply of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center and a possible ration of water from the Cebu City water tankers pending the completion of their own water wells.

However, because of the recent pronouncement made by Mayor Tomas Osmeña that he will not allow the use of water tankers to supply water for BBRC in Kalunasan, Dorigo said they might consider the indefinite postponement of their transfer.

"Seguro i-defer lang usa nato ang transfer kon way tubig," Dorego said.

Dorigo said they are expecting BBRC to have their own water supply because the national government has already allocated a budget for the drilling of their own water well. But, the barangay officials of Kalunasan stopped the drilling because it did not allegedly have permit from them. Osmeña also supported the move of the barangay officials.

He, however, said that he is not privy to it because it is the Department of Public Works and Highways which is tasked to do the project.

Barangay Kalunasan, which has its own water system, is not also willing to supply water to BBRC because there might not be enough supply anymore for the residents.

The mayor also refused earlier to allow the use of its Kaohsiung buses to transport the inmates to Kalunasan. However, Dorigo said that he respects the decision of Osmeña because it is his prerogative whether or not to allow its use considering that it is the city's property.

Dorigo said they will just have to find other means to transport the 2,500 inmates to its new facility in Kalunasan should the mayor insist on his earlier decision and should the transfer push through at the end of the month. - Fred P. Languido