Negros Oriental PB oks budget for food of NODRC inmates

CEBU, Philippines – The Negros Oriental Provincial Board the other day approved Supplemental Budget No. 8, of the general fund, the amount of P2.54 million, which included the P1.9 million budget for the foods of inmates of the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

The allocation of the money for the inmates’ food allayed fears of untoward incident due to their restive feelings after being told by the provincial warden last week that his request for their food budget was still pending for review by the PB.

Some detainees had started to question the provincial government’s ability to feed them at a measly sum of P46.69 per day per inmate, said provincial jail warden Regulo Getalan.

The approved budget for the inmates’ food, amounting to P1,910,725, covered the expenses from August to December this year, said Getalan, who thanked the PB for the immediate action in resolving the NODRC problem.

Getalan said this year’s budget for food at the NODRC is P4,320,000 for 250 inmates only or at an average of P400,000 per month.

However, there are now 383 inmates, crowding the jail’s 150-bed capacity, so for September and October, the budget for food went short. This prompted NODRC to open a credit line with its “suki” to address the daily consumption of three-and-a-half sacks of NFA rice, and about 80 kilos of fish, dozens of eggs, milk and vegetables, said Getalan.

Of the 383 inmates at NODRC, 228 are detention prisoners, 18 are female and 140 have been scheduled earlier for transport to the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, which was also held in abeyance due to lack of funds. Each inmate and his escort would incur an expense of about P12,000 to P15,000.

Regional Trial Court-Branch 30 presiding Judge Rafael Crescencio Tan Jr earlier recommended to Getalan to submit a budget of NODRC for next year, including the cost of shipment for the 140 convincted prisoners.

Getalan said the jail’s proposed budget for next year is P21,746,075.14, the bulk of which goes to personnel services at P11 million for 50 jail guards including job orders, another P10 million for the maintenance and other operating expenses to include fuel, medicines, P6.3 million for food and P100,000 as capital outlay. (FREEMAN)