PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the importance of improving the Philippines’ system of caring for its inmates saying it was the responsibility of all Filipinos to effect a lasting change and improvement on the country’s penology system.
In his speech keynoting the 21st Anniversary of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology held at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, the President said all Filipinos had to pitch-in to ensure that the correctional system can bring true rehabilitation to the lives of our inmates languishing in jail for their crimes.
He said that in the two-years that his administration has been in existence, improving the BJMP’s ability to care for inmates, through upgrading the agency’s infrastructure and equipment, was on top of his priority list.
Among these upgrades include: the construction of an additional 47 prison buildings to house 69,735 inmates around the country and the computerization of jail records under the National Inmates Monitoring System (NIMS).
He added that P500-million has already been allocated to construct 2,000 housing units for the personnel of the BJMP and the Bureau of Fire Protection while retired employees will be able to withdraw their pensions through their bank accounts via ATMs (automated teller machines).
He called on the BJMP to join government efforts to rid the bureaucracy of corruption through its various reforms being implemented and become true instruments of change. (PCOO)
