THE construction of the new La Trinidad Municipal Jail building was deferred pending further study by the Municipal Development Council.
The building, with an estimated cost of P13.2 million, was already approved by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Barangay Shilan to address the increasing number of inmates.
During last week’s Municipal Council session, the report of the committee on zoning, urban and rural development was deferred to further study the construction of a 3,000 square meters jail facility within the municipal owned lot.
The area however was earlier proposed for a public cemetery.
Based on records, the area is classified as an agricultural area with the council asking the MDC whether the municipality is inclined in reclassifying the lot.
Currently, the La Trinidad Municipal Jail at Upper Kesbeng is occupying a portion of Benguet Provincial Jail.
As of November 7, the current municipal jail houses 29 male and 27 in the female dorm.
Previously, Municipal Jail Warden John Melecio forwarded a brief feasibility study on the proposed establishment of La Trinidad Municipal Jail at Shilan.
According to the study, the site is located along the by-pass road from Barangay Shilan to Barangay Beckel, about one kilometer from the main Halsema Highway and about five to six kilometers from the courts at Upper Kesbeng.
The project is a type B jail facility which includes a two-storey building, a perimeter fence and other facilities such as office building, multi-purpose area, and an open recreation area and personnel barracks.
The 3,000 square meter area is recommended to accommodate all necessary structures and the inmates from La Trinidad for a period of more than 50 years.
“The property is situated atop the mountain far from the residential areas of Shilan. There is no existing water source at present, during the construction phase, the water requirements could be sourced by drilling,” adds the brief feasibility study.