|
Thursday, March 30, 2006
New city jail ready by July
A new Cebu City jail that will cost P19 million is expected to rise in Barangay Kalunasan and will be available for use by July.
A problem on water supply, however, may hamper the transfer of the estimated 2,600 male inmates of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC).
But a study by the Water Resource Center is underway so deep wells could be built for the facility’s needs, said Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology regional engineer Elmer A. Pino.
BBRC is currently located at the old airport in Barangay Lahug, which is now the Asiatown IT Park.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Procopio Fernandez visited the construction site yesterday to check the progress of work on the four-story building.
The perimeter fence for the entire compound is already 60 percent complete but workers are still facing structural problems with the foundation and posts for the new building.
Additional cells
A two-story building with a roof-deck is already finished but it could only hold around 960 inmates. The new building, which is under construction, could hold around 1,200 inmates.
A plan to use the roof-deck of the first building for additional cells is also being considered so inmates will no longer stay in cramped jails.
Funds for the new building come from a P30-million allocation Rama asked to be realigned for the City jail.
The P30 million was part of the P100-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds that President Arroyo allotted for the construction of drug rehabilitation centers in Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City. Cebu City was able to have the amount realigned.
Drug cases
Rama argued that most of those jailed in BBRC are facing drug charges, so re-aligning the amount will still serve the same purpose. Pino said over a thousand BBRC male inmates are jailed because of drug cases.
Female inmates are already in Kalunasan along with minor offenders. They do not share the same structures, however, and are prohibited from mingling with each other. That prohibition will stay once the male inmates are transferred.
Snce there is an P11-million surplus from the realigned funds, Rama intends to use these to buy a close circuit monitoring system.
BJMP and Cebu City also plans to build a multi-purpose center with bleachers and comfort rooms, mess hall, perimeter wall of the rooftop building, and comfort rooms for the male dormitory. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 30, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
