Congestion contributes to spread of measles, capitol eyes expanding CPDRC

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial government is eyeing the expansion of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center to cater to detainees inflicted with diseases.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III admitted that CPDRC is already congested, thus also causing the rapid spread of contagious diseases such as measles, which the jail management noted to have increased.

“Nanobra ang mga detainees sa CPDRC. Misobra ta around 300, I think. Unya ang mga Mayor mihangyo nato nga katong naay bug-at nga kaso ari sa CPDRC,” Davide told reporters.

Davide said he is looking at the possibility of building an infirmary at the one-hectare lot at the back of CPDRC.

The governor, hoping to have the project realized within his administration, said the plan will be referred to provincial engineer Hector Jamora and to the Provincial Health Office.

CPDRC Warden Romeo Manansala, in a separate interview, welcomed the plan of the governor, saying that the expansion of the facility will benefit the detainees.

“Maayo na nga plano kay daghan, congested na gyod ang CPDRC,” he told The FREEMAN, in a phone interview.

He said that as of June, there is a total of 1, 971 inmates in the provincial jail, seven of them have just been dismissed.

Manansala said that cases of measles at CPDRC have continued to increase since June 9 when the case was first reported. From last Thursday’s 43 cases, the figure has reached to 60 as of yesterday, with 25 of the inmates already been discharged from the isolation room.

The jail has its own clinic but can hardly accommodate a thousand inmates, he said.

The jail warden said visitors who are suffering from viral diseases are still being barred from entering the facility considering that measles is an airborne disease. (FREEMAN)