One year extension for District Jail transition sought

THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is asking for another year extension of its memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the transition of management of the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.

BJMP Regional Director Ignacio Panti and Negros Occidental District Jail Warden Amelito Fuentes met on Monday with lawyer Jose Maria Valencia, chief of staff of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., and presented their proposal.

Valencia said he required the BJMP to submit a letter to the governor so that they can submit the proposal to the Provincial Board for approval.

The existing MOA for the two-year transition period between the BJMP and the Provincial Government will end on June this year.

Capitol pays for the salaries and benefits of 21 jail guards assigned at the District Jail, as well as for the maintenance and food allowances of the jail and the prisoners, said Valencia.

The District Jail, formerly known as the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail when it was still located at the Capitol property along Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City, was transferred to another Capitol property in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.

Valencia said that under the MOA, the Provincial Government donated the Capitol property in Tabunan with the condition that it is mainly for jail use.

In previous years, Capitol asked the BJMP to observe austerity measures when its electricity bills went up.

Valencia said BJMP will also hire some provincial jail guards once they take full control of the jail operations. (TDE)