THE female dormitory in the Talisay City Jail in Barangay Maghaway is packed like sardines, according to the warden of the facility.
Jail Inspector Maria Roselle Paracale said they currently have 229 female persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are divided into two cells.
Paracale said each cell was designed to accommodate a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 40 PDLs. However, she said they have been forced to cram each one with more than 100 occupants.
She hopes the facility will get additional cells to relieve the congestion.
With the current situation, many PDLs are prone to sickness because of the unhygienic conditions, she said.
She added that some PDLs have skin disease, while others are suffering from high blood pressure, asthma, and cough.
City Councilor Gail Restauro, chairman of the committee on peace and order, said they managed to allocate funds in 2023 for the construction of a new female dormitory.
Restauro said they are waiting for the winning bidder to be announced so the project can be implemented in January.
About 92 percent of the PDLs at the female dormitory are facing illegal drug-related cases, Paracale said. (PJB)