Thursday, November 22, 2007 Beyond dancing, it’s discipline that sets prison apart, says DILG
OFFICIALS from four countries praised the Cebu Provincial Government’s management of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC). And their praise extends beyond the popular dancing inmates.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 Director Pedro Noval represented the country in a forum on reform strategy and performance in Korea early this month.
Of the 12 participating countries, the Philippines was among five delegates chosen to present a paper on best practices in the government.
Noval’s personal choice was the new approach to penology at the CPDRC because of its “unique” local governance set-up and its “culture of discipline.”
In his presentation, Noval highlighted the jail’s four-tiered security system, participative management through divide and rule approach, code of conduct for the inmates, decongestion, livelihood opportunities, integration of music in physical fitness, and societal participation.
Noval said the presentation impressed Dr. Park Yeon-Soo, president of the Korea-based Local Government Officials Development Institute, a training provider for senior local government officials.
“He said that only the Philippines presented an innovation at work. Other countries such as Ecuador, Chile, and Cambodia asked for copies of my video presentation and text,” said Noval in yesterday’s Kapihan sa PIA.
Noval said that after CPDRC’s massive overhaul of the jail management system and reorganization of personnel, “corruption in jail finances, gambling, and illegal purchase of contraband were eliminated” and peace and order was upheld
“Inmates’ earnings are recorded in a passbook, from which they can withdraw when they get out at the Court of First Instance Community Cooperative,” Noval said.
CPDRC caught international attention when 1,500 inmates danced to the song “Thriller,” a presentation viewed on the YouTube website five million times in just four weeks in August this year.
Noval said they already nominated CPDRC for the Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook or Gawad Galing Pook, a pioneering awards program on innovation and excellence in local governance.
Categories include outstanding local governance programs, award for continuing excellence, and special citation on local capacity innovations for the Millennium Development Goals.
Noval said he is hopeful CPDRC will win the award next year. (NRC)
