MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit has again called out the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) over what the COA described as the measly and unhealthy meals being served to inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and Correctional Institution for Women (CIW).
“Meals provided to inmates at the NBP and CIW were not in accordance with the Food Subsistence Agreement (FSA) due to failure of the Food Inspection Committee to monitor its implementation,” the COA said in its 2022 annual audit report on BuCor.
Of the P5.264 billion appropriated budget of the BuCor for 2022, P1.264 billion was earmarked for 49,481 presumed number of inmates for the year.
The audit body said a review of the records of meals served to inmates from June to December 2022 revealed that caterers Aurora Sumulong Eatery and Mang Kiko Catering Services deviated from what was agreed upon under the FSA.
According to state auditors, changes in the menu were not approved by the BuCor nutritionist and the NBP superintendent, in violation of Section 8.3 of the FSA for 2022.
“The failure to comply with the required approval prior to substitution of meals may result in serving meals that are not nutritionally appropriate for inmates since the meals were not assessed by the BuCor nutritionist based on the agreed 10-day-cycle menu,” the COA said.
The COA’s breakdown of meals served to the inmates revealed instances wherein the prisoners were merely served bread and coffee for breakfast.
Under the agreed menu, they should have been served a viand, steamed rice and fruit.
Under Day 3 of the agreed menu, the inmates were supposed to be served “kare-kare” and boiled rice for lunch, but were instead given “steamed rice and misua patola.”
For Day 4, a dinner of “pork asado with camote or saba and boiled rice” was substituted with “steamed rice and adobong sitaw.”
A dinner of “chicken afritada with carrots and potato and boiled rice” for Day 9 of the menu plan was replaced with “steamed rice and sardines.”
For Day 10, the inmates were supposed to be served “pork sinigang and boiled rice” but were instead given “steamed rice and mixed vegetables.”
The COA said the caterers also failed to provide the required serving portions of rice specified under the FSA.
The audit body noted that under the technical specifications of the FSA, male inmates should be served two cups of steamed rice, while female inmates should be served one-and-a-half cup of rice to meet the required 2,000-kilo calories per day for each prisoner.
State auditors said delivery receipts attached to the disbursement vouchers showed that all the inmates were served just one cup of rice.
In its response, the BuCor said the “matter is under investigation.”