CEBU, Philippines - Technology is infiltrating even into our jails.
To avoid congestion during the jail visiting hours, the Lapu-Lapu City Jail officially launched "e-Dalaw," a video chat kind of jail visit catered to inmates whose families cannot physically visit or is outside the city.
Reynante Rubio, chief jail warden of the jail facility, said they have three computers donated from a group which has been the jail's Internet service provider for almost three years now.
"First time ni sa whole Cebu Province nga ang city jail sa Lapu-Lapu nag-launch ani," Rubio said.
The e-Dalaw is open for inmates from 9 o'clock in the morning until 12 noon while regular visiting hours inside the city jail maintains the 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. schedule that operates from Monday to Friday. There will be no visiting hours over the weekend, according to Rubio.
Rubio said each inmate can use each computer within 15 minutes, which are located in their administration office. A first-come, first-serve basis is applied for the usage of the computers.
The Skype software application is the only communication tool installed in each computer, according to Rubio.
"Bisan og dili kahibalo mogamit ang uban nga mga inmates og Skype naa man tay mga personnel nga nagbantay og mahimo silang magpatudlo kung unsaon," Rubio explained.
With the jail having a daily visitor traffic of 400 to 500, the use of e-Dalaw will help solve visitor congestion in the facility. "Through this Skype, dili na kaayo daghan ang moanhi," Rubio said.
He explained that the fare in going to the city jail is costly for some families who live far from the city and going to Internet cafés is cheaper, according to the jail warden.
Rubio cited a 35-year-old inmate having tried out the e-Dalaw after it was launched.
"Domestic helper iyahang mama sa New Zealand, very impossible siya ma-visit kay layo kaayo. Nakahilak gud siya ug iyahang mama tungod sa kamingaw," Rubio said.
Communication through text message between the jail department and the families can also be made prior to the actual video chat conversation.
Rubio added that the maintenance of the e-Dalaw is their department's initiative to decongest visitors, saying having too many visitors poses security threat.
The e-Dalaw was launched last Saturday and the launching was attended by lawyer Peter Irving Corvera, undersecretary for Public Safety of Department of Interior and Local Government together with Regional Director Chief Superintendent Serafino Baretto Jr. of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology -7.
The jail houses 1,136 male inmates and 134 female inmates. (FREEMAN)