The leadership of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is already awaiting the decision of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) on the granular opening for non-contact visitation of persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
According to BJMP Spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda, it is now being studied and is just waiting to be approved by the IATF and prioritized in low-risk areas.
Some of the possible rules are as follows:
- the visitor must be fully vaccinated
- only one relative will be admitted per visit *the relative will be given 1 hour to talk to the PDL relative
- minors will not be allowed to enter or visit
It is not yet sure when it will start, but several BJMP facilities have already conducted pilot testing in Central Visayas, MIMAROPA, and Cordillera.
Meanwhile, Solda announced that there is only one remaining COVID-19 PDL case in the country.
“Isang aktibong kaso na lamang po ng COVID-19 case ang natitira sa aming mga piitan at tinututukan ngayon ng pamunuan ng BJMP. Ikawalong araw na rin po na wala tayong naitatalang kaso ng COVID 19 sa ating mga PDL,” he said.
(Only one active COVID-19 case remains in our jails and is now being monitored by the BJMP leadership. It is also the eighth day that we have not recorded a case of COVID 19 in our PDLs)
BJMP prepares for possible opening of granular visitation to PDLs
Since March last year, the BJMP has recorded a total of 4,672 cases of which 4,552 have been fully recovered.
Solda also reported that 119,070 of the 125,589 PDLs have been vaccinated.
“Ibig sabihin po nito, ang aming total percentage of vaccinated PDL ay umabot na ng 94.81 percent. Samantala, 95,813 sa 119,070 na PDL ay fully vaccinated na.”
(This means that our total percentage of vaccinated PDLs has reached 94.81 percent. Meanwhile, 95,813 of the 119,070 PDLs have been fully vaccinated.)
The BJMP hopes that before the end of the year, all PDLs will be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced last week that the entire Philippines is now under Alert Level 2 after Apayao was deescalated from Alert Level 3.
“This latest development means as of today, no province or city is under Alert Level 3,” said Nograles in a Palace briefing.
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