New BJMP building for Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-7 has a new four-storey building inside the Lapu-Lapu City Jail compound which has 36 cells intended for the male inmates.

The building, which was funded by the national government to the tune of P17 million, was turned over to BJMP yesterday.

Mayor Paz Radaza, BJMP regional director Arnold Buenacosa, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Regional Director Elias Fernandez and Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director Rommel Cabagnot attended the ceremony.

Buenacosa said the budget for the construction of the new building is part of the P333 million intended for jail facilities in Central Visayas.

The new building was established to address concerns on jail congestion considering that the total number of male inmates in Lapu-Lapu City Jail, located in Barangay Mactan, is now 2,284.p

In her speech, Radaza said that although the inmates have committed crimes, they also deserve comfort inside the facility for humanitarian reasons.

"For it is not a privilege but a right.  And I believe all these people here deserve a better facility for their stay here to be convenient as possible. Dili nato igsapayan ang ilang mga kaagi sa wala pa sila nahisulod dinhi, kay sama nato, they all deserve, if not the best, a better place to live in," Radaza said.

Radaza also said inmates deserve a second chance and she hopes that they and the jail personnel will take care of the new facility.

"Sa atong mga inmate nga ania karon dinhi, ako nanghinaot, nga inyong pag-ampingan ug atimanon kining bag-o nga pasilidad aron sa kalahutayan niini," she added.

Jail Superintendent Julius  Arro of Lapu-Lapu City Jail also said that the new facility is a great help in decongesting the cells that the male inmates are now occupying.

However, they have yet to determine how many male inmates can occupy the new building.

Bloodletting Activity

Meanwhile, personnel of BJMP-7 conducted a bloodletting activity in partnership with the Regional Blood Center (RBC) of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) at the BJMP Regional Office yesterday.

Buenacosa said that the activity was done to contribute to the community by saving lives.

"By donating blood, you are saving lives so yun po ang isang dahilan kung bakit kami nagkaroon ng ganitong programa," he told The Freeman.

Buenacosa also said that the bloodletting activity is part of his birthday celebration.

VSMMC Medical Officer 4 Rian John Pableo who was present at the event said that the activity has a positive effect not only to the community but also on the body.

"It's a good initiative kay at least makatabang ta sa atong community. Naa sad siyay positive effect sa imong lawas, mura ka'g mabag-o ba aside sa nakatabang sad ka," he said.

Jail Superintendent Renante Rubio, jail warden of the male dormitory of Cebu City Jail, was also present during the activity.

"Pinaagi sa atong dugo, makahatag ta og kinabuhi and besides, it cleanses the system in our body, it strengthens our bone marrows and makabata man ni siya and you are saving lives," Rubio said.

One of the BJMP personnel who volunteered to donate blood, Jail Officer Alma Tasic, was happy to be part of the activity.

"Aside sa benefits sa akong self nga good for the health nga makuhaan ka og dugo, makatabang ko sa nanginahanglan og dugo kay kadaghanan karon nanginahanglan og dugo. Nice kayo ang feeling nga makatabang ka sauban," she added.

There were 84 BJMP personnel who attended the event but only 65 personnel were screened as others have health issues.

Only 42 people of the 65 were qualified to donate blood.— Chelsey Gaile B. Lapingcao, and Patricia Faith T. Santillan/MBG (FREEMAN)