PB points out CPDRC’s lack of plan for drug issue

CEBU, Philippines - The jail warden of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center welcomed the suggestions made by some members of the Provincial Board during the recent budget hearing at the Provincial Capitol.

CPDRC jail warden Romeo Manansala said he took the suggestions of the PB members positively as it would help improve the jail facility.

In a report over radio dyLA aired on Saturday, it quoted Board member Grecilda Sanchez as saying that CPDRC has no “concrete plan” to eliminate the alleged drug proliferation inside the facility. 

Sanchez, as well as Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, noted during the budget hearing last week that measures that were seen to address the issues hurled against the provincial jail were not included by the CPDRC management in its proposed budget.

They were referring to the security measures being implemented inside the facility following the allegations on the presence of drug trade in the jail.

Manansala pointed out during the budget hearing that they have closed-circuit television cameras inside the facility that are not functioning which has made illegal drug trade inside the jail undetected.

Apart from this, a tower, where a security guard is supposed to be detailed to oversee the premises of the facility, has also been damaged and is already leaning to its side. 

Sanchez, who heads the PB committee on budget and appropriations, and Magpale then pointed out and recommended that the mentioned concerns of the facility should be included in the proposed budget for next year.

 Sanchez, in the radio report, further added that the PB would also recommend to the governor the hiring of an additional consultant to man the provincial jail. 

Sanchez said the consultant should have a background on penology management or trained by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. 

The FREEMAN contacted CPDRC’s current consultant, Marco Toral, but he was not available for comment as of press time.

The CPDRC management is proposing a budget of P87 million for 2015, which higher than the P70 million this year.

The biggest chunk of the budget would go to food supply expenses at P52 million, with a P60 meal budget for each inmate per day.

CPDRC houses more than 2,100 inmates, way beyond its 1,600-capacity. (FREEMAN)