Mandaue jail opens third building

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Jail yesterday inaugurated its third building which will help solve congestion of inmates at their two existing buildings.

The newly inaugurated facility, which is funded by the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology, is worth P2.5 million and lies on a 37 square meter lot adjacent to its two other jail facilities.

Chief Inspector Gil Inopia, the jail warden, said the newly inaugurated building is a three-story building. He said the second and third floors will be used as a new cell for 72 of the 1,180 inmates of the said facility.

The ground floor of the new building will serve as multi-purpose building for livelihood trainings and spiritual and value formation training programs. Inopia said the jail management has tapped the help of the non-government organization and church groups for this purpose.

Inopia also said the construction of the building started in mid-July of last year and finished just before the year ended.

The contractor of the said jail is set to begin with another project still at the city jail.

Inopia said Planac Construction is also the same contractor that won the bidding for the construction and completion of the compound's perimeter fence which is allocated a budget of P1 million.

During yesterday's inauguration, it was Inopia who read the message of Mayor Jonas Cortes who could not attend as he had a meeting with department heads at the City Hall.

"Jail congestion is a big challenge for the government… Under the present leadership of local and national BJMP and in partnership with the private sector, I am optimistic we can spell a difference in the life of every inmate," Cortes said in his message read by Inopia.

The mayor added that inmates have to be treated humanely under the General Welfare clause for inmates of the Local Government Code.

Cortes said the city government for its part is looking for additional adjacent lots for expansion projects.

Also gracing the activity was BJMP regional director Chief Supt. Serafin Barretto Jr.

The Mandaue City Jail currently has 1,180 inmates, 100 of them females.  (FREEMAN)