Catapang orders prisons to ensure water supply amid extreme heat

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Thursday ordered all officials in prisons and penal farms nationwide to ensure that there is a steady supply of water for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) amid scorching heat.

In a statement, Catapang also ordered Ma. Ceclia Villanueva, the acting director for health and welfare services chief of the New Bilibid Prison Hospital, to make rounds and check on the status of the PDLs.

“Our facilities are congested and due to the extreme heat that we are experiencing, our PDLs suffered the most, so I want to check on them,” Catapang said.

For her part, Villanueva said she has issued a health advisory to ensure the implementation of health programs, services and provision of medicines to PDLs.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Catapang said that their PDLs are also prohibited from staying under the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to prevent sunburn.

He said that they have yet to record cases of any illness among their inmates.

“Nakatulong po ‘yung pag giba natin ng mga dingding, yung mga kubol… Lagusan na po yung hangin. Kasi dati ano sila eh, nakakulong. Hindi mo nakikita kung anong ginagawa sa loob,” Catapang said.

(The dismantling of the makeshift rooms helped… because air can now enter. Before, they were confined. You can’t see what’s going on inside.)

“Ngayon nakikita sila. Nakakatulong din, tumatagos ang hangin sa kanila. Maaliwalas na sila ngayon,” he added.

(Now you can see them. It also helped because they can now have air. It’s more open.)

On Wednesday, state weather bureau PAGASA forecast that seven areas in the country are expected to experience a dangerous level of heat index:

Dagupan City, Pangasinan- 42°C

• Sangley Point, Cavite- 42°C
• Puerto Princesa City, Palawan- 42°C 
• Central Bicol State University of Agriculture in Pili, Camarines Sur- 42°C
• Dumangas, Iloilo- 42°C
• Catarman, Northern Samar- 43°C
• Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur- 42°C

Meanwhile, a heat index of 41°C and 39°C are expected for Pasay City and the Science Garden Quezon City, respectively. 

Donations

Meanwhile Catapang bared that San Miguel Corporation president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang vowed to make a donation.

“Natuwa po siya sa pag bisita niya. Sabi niya okay, mag do-donate ako ng P100 million para sa pagkain o mga kailangan ng mga PDL. So 'yan po ngayon pamimigay namin,” he said.

(He was happy when he visited. He said he would donate P100 million for food and provisions of the PDLs. So we will distribute that.)

“And then sabi pa niya mag bibigay pa siya ng P50 million worth para sa educational enhancement. So malaking ano po yan… tulong,” he added.

(He also said that he would donate P50 million worth for educational enhancement, so this is a big help.)

—Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News