Fifty-nine percent of the residents of the Baguio City Jail-Male Dorm are drug offenders.
Jail Superintendent April Rose W. Ayangwa, warden of the Baguio City Jail-Male Dorm, said 216 out of the 376 persons deprived of liberty are drug offenders.
She attributed this to the dedication of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in their sustained implementation of the government’s enhanced anti-illegal drug campaign.
Ayangwa said following drug cases on top of the list of PDLs is rape, which accounts for 10.16 percent.
She said the facility continues to implement programs such as therapeutic community modality program, Katatagan, Kalusugan at Damayan sa Komunidad, alternative learning system, drug symposia and lectures on the ill effects of illegal drugs, outpatient drug treatment and rehabilitation program by the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, and other development opportunities in line with the government’s program on the whole-of-agency approach to eradicate illegal drugs in the country and the Buhay ay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan advocacy program of the Department of the Interior and Local government.
On the data of PDLs with special needs, Ayangwa said there are 26 Muslim residents, 14 members of the LGBTQIA+ community, 10 senior citizens, eight diabetic patients, and four tuberculosis patients.
She said the PDLs had already been separate and have their own dorms inside the male dorm and that their needs are being addressed by the jail personnel on duty.
Ayangwa said regular treatment and monitoring of all PDLs under medication for tuberculosis, hypertension, psyche, and other related concerns are being administered by health personnel.
She said the male dorm will continue to provide various training skills for the development of the PDLs as part of the vision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as an agency capable of being highly efficient in providing humane safekeeping and developmental opportunities to PDLs.
At the start of the quarter, the male dorm has coordinated with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other service providers where the facility manages skills training such as tile setting, dressmaking, rattan weaving, and bayong-making.
Ayangwa said through these trainings, the PDLs were able to produce exceptional products which the public can check in the facility’s official Facebook page or they can directly visit the facility for orders.
She added the increase in livelihood programs presents income-generating activities to PDLs during their confinement where they are able to earn for their personal upkeep and for financial support to their families. – PIO release
