BJMP personnel to donate portion of their salaries for efforts vs. COVID-19

All personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology would donate a portion of their salaries to help in the government's effort in curbing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

At the Laging Handa press briefing on Monday, BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said the bureau is aiming to collect more than P7 million.

"Ang lahat ng mga BJMP personnel nationwide, sama-sama kami, mayroong 1.5 percent mula sa aming base pay... aabot 'yan sa around P7.23 million, lahat po ng personnel natin, tutulong po sa efforts ng national government para sa COVID-19," Solda said.

Solda also said BJMP inmates are also helping in the fight against COVID-19 by making improvised face masks and personal protective equipment for frontliners who continue to serve amid the health crisis.

"Ito ang nakakatuwa, 'yung ating mga PDL (persons deprived of liberty) mismo, tumutulong na rin sila sa paggawa ng facial masks, PPEs para doon sa ating mga frontline health workers," Solda said.

In a separate statement, Solda said the collected amount would be turned over to the Office of Civil Defense which is tasked to manage the donations for the efforts against COVID-19.

Solda said a total of 14,875 BJMP personnel are manning a total of 468 jail facilities nationwide.

According to Solda, the BJMP has already been helping communities during times of calamities and crisis before the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kahit wala pa po itong COVID-19, 'yung ating mga personnel, pag may calamities, sakuna, may problema sa komunidad, kapartner po ng communities ang BJMP personnel para sa pagtulong," Solda said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News