Capitol to sign MOA to turn-over BDRC
BOHOL partially shakes off its burden in running the provincial jail when it inks an agreement with the country’s mandated jailers for a prison management take-over anytime soon.
Finally resolving to lighten its load, Capitol is now studying the terms of the agreement with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), in co-managing the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center (BDRC) Atty. Tomas Abapo said Friday.
The move came after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera resolved to authorize Governor Erico Aumentado to commence negotiations regarding the turn-over of the BDRC to the BJMP.
Governor Aumentado is the provincial jailer here.
In a letter to the governor, BJMP Regional Director JCSupt. Doris Remedios Dorigo told local authorities of the pending bills, all to proposing to effectively transfer the provincial and municipal run jails to the jurisdiction of the BJMP, Abapo, who sits as the Provincial administrator shared.
Dorico however said pending its approval, the BJMP has a remedy for Bohol; that is to effect a temporary takeover via a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the province and the BJMP.
By temporary, BJMP sees three years, renewable until the pending bills take effect.
With the agreement, the BJMP uses the BDRC under its own management, but Capitol still puts in the logistical support to run the rehabilitation facility.
Moreover, the BJMP reserves the right to retain BDRC personnel who shall qualify the minimum requirements set by existing jail policies.
The Capitol however still assigns and details personnel at the BDRC in similar manner that the provincial appropriations for the BDRC would be used by the BJMP, Abapo added.
Despite the partial and temporary take-over plan, Capitol officials see good development as the running BDRC has become a sore Capitol issue.
Issues relating to jail mismanagement by casual guards and some jail officials, prisoners practicing irregularities and granting unfair privileges have been leaked to outside authorities but have been unresolved. (rachiu/PIA)
