BJMP prepares for heat and dry-season diseases, increases hazard pay

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Wednesday that it is continuing decongestion efforts in its facilities, among other measures, to combat the heat of the dry season as well as to prevent the spread of diseases. 

“Kaakibat po niyan ay nagkaroon nang early procurement ng medicines, equipment at fortunately pagtaas ng budget na pagtugon sa kalusugan ng ating mga Persons Deprived of Liberty. Ganundin po, tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang decongestion program natin, nagpapatayo ng mga bago, moderno at maluluwag na facilities,” said BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera in “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.” 

(Along with that, we have conducted early procurement of medicines and equipment, and fortunately, there has been a budget increase to address the health needs of our Persons Deprived of Liberty. Likewise, our decongestion program is continuous; we are building new, modern, and spacious facilities.) 

Bustinera said that the congestion rate in their facilities is currently at 294%, which is an improvement from last year’s 327%. He said that new facilities have been built in New Quezon City Jail, in Camp Bagong Diwa, in Mandaluyong City Jail, and in Marawi City Jail. 

Aside from ventilation, the BJMP official said that persons deprived of liberty have access to potable water. 

“At kung sakali man pong may water interruption, may pakikipag-ugnayan po ang BJMP sa Bureau of Fire Protection which is under also the DILG… na magsu-supply sila as a contingency sa mga water interruption sa jail,” said Bustinera. 

(And in case there are water interruptions, the BJMP has a coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection—which is also under the DILG... they will supply water as a contingency for water interruptions in the jails.) 

The BJMP is monitoring possible cases of carbuncle among PDLs after 600 cases were logged in its facilities last year. 

“Ito po iyong carbuncle or boil na tawag o sa Tagalog ay pigsa. Ito po iyong pinakamarami naming datos, nasa 600-plus PDL ito last year. And dahil nga po iyon ang datos, ito iyong pinaghahandaan naman namin this year,” said Bustinera. 

(This is the carbuncle or boil, or what we call pigsa in Tagalog. This is where we have the most data, involving 600-plus PDLs last year. And because that is the data, this is what we are preparing for this year.) 

“May mga other related medical diseases din po katulad ng high blood pressure sa ating mga PDL na natugunan naman na po ito dahil naka-prepare na po ang mga gamot at mga intervention naman natin,” he added. 

(There are also other related medical diseases, such as high blood pressure among our PDLs, which have been addressed because our medicines and interventions are already prepared.) 

Hazard pay 

Further, the BJMP said that it has increased the hazard pay for its uniformed personnel amid the hot season. 

“For our personnel po kasi on the frontline, hindi namin sila puwedeng basta lang i-curtail ang kanilang work hours. What we did is of course adjustment of their salaries through the subsistence allowance; hazard pay nag-increase din po tayo katulad ng iba and among other subsidies po na binibigay naman ng BJMP,” said Bustinera. 

(For our personnel on the frontline, we can't just simply curtail their work hours. What we did is, of course, an adjustment of their salaries through the subsistence allowance; we also increased the hazard pay, just like with the others, along with other subsidies provided by the BJMP.) 

He added that jail personnel were allowed to wear loose clothes during the hot weather. 

“At pagdating ngayong summer ay allowed na po sila, una, iyong mas mapreskong damit, ito iyong polo shirt na puwede nilang suotin, part of our uniform, during their duties,” said Bustinera. 

(And now that summer is here, they are allowed, first of all, to wear cooler clothing—these are the polo shirts they can wear as part of our uniform during their duties.) — BM, GMA Integrated News