BJMP installs jail cameras

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) started installing closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in local jails to prevent the escape of prisoners and the smuggling of illegal drugs and weapons in the detention cells.

BJMP Director Rosendo Dial ordered all jail wardens to increase security through the installation of CCTVs.

“Escapes and jail incidents to include the entry of contrabands which have put the bureau in bad light in the past, have been partly caused by human factors.  I want these to be neutralized so that the possibility of these ever happening again will be eliminated,” Dial added.

Dial said the installation of CCTVs is a significantly contribution to the bureau’s zero-escape program and is expected to cover all BJMP-manned jails in the various regions.

He admitted that jail administrators depend on beefing up security through the augmentation of personnel by transferring officers from administrative offices to security units.

“This is a complete departure from the conventional practice and though not completely innovative, took great resolve to be introduced and ordered upon field unit managers,” he added.

Dial also directed the implementation of surprise inspections in all jails in Metro Manila to preempt the occurrence of jail incidents during the observance of the 14th National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW) which will kick-off on October 26 and culminate on the last day of this month.

He said the exercise would also flush-out illegal drugs and deadly weapons that have led to bloody jail riots.

In a continuous pursuit to end food controversies, Dial reiterated to the wardens to spend all their efforts and the last centavo of the inmates’ subsistence budget in improving food quality.

“Secure sanitary permits from your respective local government units for your messing administration.  I will personally lead inspections to monitor your compliance to our standards; and nobody will be spared for lapses,” he said.

The BJMP announced that food allowance for inmates has been increased from P40 to P50. The P50 meal a day budget will be divided as P10 for breakfast and P20 each for lunch and dinner.

The BJMP-National Capital Region recently conducted a series of meetings and consultations with NCR regional director Chief Superintendent Serafin Barretto Jr. and NCR jail wardens on how to improve the messing procedures in Jails.

BJMP-NCR had come up in the creation of a Regional Food Service Council which aims to improve food service by applying the principles, practices, supervision, management and technical oversight required in food preparation, production, safety, sanitation, distribution, storage, budgetary and inventory control involved in the efficient operation of the food service program in NCR jails.

At present the Regional Food Service Council proposed the centralization of menu to be implemented to all Metro Manila jails for a month, to ensure that safe and nutritious food is given to inmates.