Catanduanes mayors to extend support to BJMP jails
By Edna Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes --- Mayors in this island province expressed their support to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Virac District Jail in a meeting held on April 19, at Rakdell Inn, Virac, here.
The pledge of support was based on the provision stipulated under RA 7160 also known as the local government code of 1991 allowing local government units (LGU) to extend their counterpart annual support for the maintenance and operation of BJMP jails.
The town mayors of Virac, Bato, San Miguel, Baras, Gigmoto, Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc agreed to extend their counterpart for the maintenance and operation of BJMP Virac now located at Brgy. Calatagan, Tibang, Virac, Catanduanes.
Mayor Emeterio M. Tarin of Viga assured BJMP Virac the amount of P100,000.00 pesos as their annual counterpart while other mayors suggested to make it pro-rated as income of each municipality depends on its size.
President of the League of Mayors, Paulo Teves of Baras advised the warden to come up with a draft budget proposal for consideration by the body during budget hearing this August, and for inclusion in the next fiscal year 2024.
Currently, Catanduanes has only two (2) district jails manned by BJMP, San Andres and Virac District Jails. The former caters Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) from San Andres, Caramoran and Pandan while the latter caters PDL from Virac, Bato, San Miguel, Baras, Gigmoto, Viga Panganiban and Bagamanoc.
On August 28, 2018 a deed of usufruct rights was granted to the BJMP Virac involving 2,000 sqm lot located at Calatagan Tibang, Virac, Catanduanes for the construction of 18Million worth 3-storey penology building. However, it was later converted into deed of donation last March 21, 2023 through SB resolution signed between Mayor Samuel V Laynes and BJMP-R5 Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent Joel S. Superficial.
In the province, only municipality of San Andres has a regular annual fund allocation of 130,000.00 since 2014 for the maintenance and operation of BJMP San Andres. There is no similar support yet for BJMP Virac yet this proposal has the support of eight (8) mayors. Once approved, BJMP Virac will also benefit from the provision of RA 7160.
In his message during the said meeting, BJMP Virac District Jail Warden SJO4 Jorge T Gregorio, extended his gratitude to the Catanduanes League of Municipal Mayors for this welcome development. (PIA5/Catanduanes)