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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
City jail made for 300 now holds 900 inmates
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Jail in Ma-a is packed with inmates three times more than its capacity.
Inmates are sharing everything, including diseases like tuberculosis, jail warden Superintendent Allan S. Iral said Tuesday.
Iral, who appeared before the City Council regular session Tuesday, said the jail was designed to accommodate 300 inmates but now holds more than 900.
"Masyado na talagang congested ang city jail ngayon kaya may mga nagkakasakit na rin (The city jail is congested that is why inmates are also contracting diseases). Even the lobby of the city jail is occupied by inmates," Iral said, adding the city jail only has a total of 70 personnel to oversee all the inmates.
Iral said five inmates have been diagnosed to have tuberculosis and are undergoing treatment through the help of a foreign-funded non-government organization People's Action for Total Health Sufficiency.
Still, it is not unthinkable for a disease outbreak in the city jail because of congestion.
"Other health problems that developed at the city jail include upper respiratory illnesses and skin diseases pero hindi naman masyadong (but these are not too) rampant," Iral said.
The jail warden said the P500,000 support given by the City Government to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 11 for the upkeep of city jail operations is a big help to the cash-strapped agency.
"Ginagamit namin ang pera for the capital outlay. In fact, for this year, we are asking the assistance of the local government for the purchase of a photocopying machine and additional vehicles," Iral said.
From their national office, Iral said, they equivalent of P35 per inmate a day for food ration and P1,900 per month medicine allowance for all inmates.
"Kulang talaga," Iral concluded. (It is really not enough.)
(January 19, 2005 issue)
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