City launches program to address jail congestion

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City has taken another step toward reshaping its justice system with the launch of the Justice Behind and Beyond Bars Program, an initiative that coincides with legislative efforts to institutionalize the Cebu City Justice Zone.

The event at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel gathered courts, corrections, local government, legal aid groups, and civic organizations in a unified commitment to address jail congestion and strengthen rehabilitation.

Executive Judge Anacleto G. Delbucolos and Atty. Mary Grace Hermosa Casano led the launch alongside Mayor Nestor Archival.

“We joined our justice sector partners in the launching of Justice Behind & Beyond Bars, an integrated program focused on jail decongestion, access to justice, rehabilitation, aftercare, and reintegration,” Archival said.

The launch followed the passage of the ordinance authored by Councilor Paul Labra, which formally establishes the Cebu City Justice Zone as a permanent governance platform.

Labra’s measure embeds reforms into city policy, mandating digital monitoring systems to track jail populations and case timelines, while promoting alternative sentencing options such as probation, community service, and restorative justice.

Judge Delbucolos has supported the ordinance, noting that Cebu City Jail once suffered congestion rates exceeding 1,000 percent before coordinated Justice Zone efforts reduced it to around 600 percent, still severe but already reflects development.

Labra’s ordinance is designed to ensure that reforms are permanent and not dependent on shifting political priorities.

Archival, for his part, emphasized the broader vision behind these reforms.

“Ang hustisya dili lang kutob sa sulod sa prisohan. It should also give people a chance to change, rebuild, and start again,” Archival said.

He added that the Cebu City Government will continue working with justice sector partners to promote a system that is fair, humane, and responsive. — (FREEMAN)