Bigger, safer jail eyed in Naga

CEBU, Philippines —  The City of Naga government is eyeing at constructing a bigger city jail as long-term plan to house the growing number of inmates, but at a safer place this time.

The proposed construction of another jail facility is anchored on the post-disaster needs assessment which was laid out on the heels of the September 20 tragedy after experts found out that the existing prison is more likely susceptible to landslide.

“The long-term plan is to really find another location, a bigger one because the existing is already filled. We have around 145 inmates as of the moment,” Naga Mayor Kristine Chiong told reporters.

Apart from the long-term proposals, she said, the immediate action to minimize the risks of possible landslide at the existing city jail in Barangay Naalad is to work on the slope stabilization at the back of the facility.

She said until now, the city government is waiting for the Cebu provincial government, through its Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), to issue permits for the former to proceed in implementing the plan.

In November, the city government submitted to the province the plan and program of works for approval and for it to be spared from the fees in implementing the immediate project.

To pave way for the ground works, the more than 100 inmates in Naga were earlier transferred to the Cebu City Jail last November 29.

Chiong said the city government continues to provide meals for the inmates.

Also, the city offered free transportation twice a week for the family members to be able to visit at a “first come, first serve” basis.

Chiong said the inmates may temporarily stay at the Cebu City Jail for about three months the most before they can return at the Naga facility, in time for the completion of the slope stabilization works.

Meanwhile, the city government looks forward to break ground on the relocation project at the Capitol-donated Balili property in barangays Tina-an and Inuburan by January 2019.

She reiterated that the city government committed to construct the initial 50 housing units.

She added the National Housing Authority will facilitate the building of over 300 housing units.

The city engineering office is yet waiting for the approval of the plan, which includes the site development such as establishing drainage systems.

The city government also requested from the Capitol to add more lot since the donated 2.1 hectares can only accommodate at least 269 units. — JMD (FREEMAN)