The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Gets 250 New Vehicles

President Rodrigo Duterte led the the send off ceremony last September 26, Wednesday, at Camp General Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna, for the distribution of 250 brand new transport vehicles that will be used in various cities, districts, and municipal jails across the country.

"This will be the biggest acquisition we have ever received. A total of 250 units will be given today," said Jail Chief Inspector Xavier Solda, Community Relations Service Officer for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP).

Neatly lined up at the grandstand grounds, the 250 BJMP transport vehicles are part of President Duterte's directive to set a budget to allot 300 vehicles that the president "promised to the BJMP" when he visited Camp Bagong Diwa in October last year.

According to Malacanang’s press release, 50 units have already been dispatched last July to different regional recipients. Said units are now being used to transport Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), which, according to jail management officials, is the political term used for prisoners, detainees, or inmates.

"Today, we complete the entire package with the turnover of 250 vans that we send-off today to BJMP regional offices nationwide," he said.

Republic Act 9263

The president stressed that the new vehicles are "part of our continuing efforts to improve the operations of BJMP, enhance public safety in the transportation of prisoners, and provide our detainees with humane and dignified correctional facilities."

He also added that his administration "gives primacy to the welfare of our prison personnel, and this includes the promotion of their occupational safety, proper remuneration, and high morale."

It is for this reason that President Duterte wants to implement Republic Act 9263, which places the BJMP on equal footing with the Philippine National Police (PNP) when it comes to retirement benefits, salary, and qualifications.

"With a total manpower strength of over 13,000 personnel handling 500 jails nationwide, our BJMP personnel truly deserves an improved quality of life for themselves and their families," the President added.

The Head of State also urged the jail personnel to remain "steadfast in the duties to help the government in its efforts to fight corruption and eradicate criminality."

"To our jail officers, be assured I am always behind you as you perform your duties in accordance with the law," he said.