PROGRAMS

Major Programs

There are four (4) major programs under the mandate of BJMP and they are the following:

  • PDL custody, security and control program.
  • PDL welfare and development program.
  • Decongestion program.
  • Good governance.

Core Programs

  1. Provisions of Basic Needs

         All PDL under custody are provided with three (3) meals (breakfast, lunch and supper). Adequate supply of potable water is made available to them at all times. Likewise, upon admission, each PDL is issued his or her PDL uniform consisting of the yellow shirt and brown jogging pants. Hygiene kits are also distributed to the PDL on monthly or quarterly basis. Occasionally, the provision of basic needs for the PDL is supplemented by the food and non-food donations from local government units, non-government organizations, business sector and private individuals.

  2. Health Services

         Health services for PDL consist of interventions towards the prevention, promotion, treatment of illnesses and rehabilitation. All PDL undergo medical assessment upon admission. During confinement, PDL are provided with health education and counseling, medical consultations, regular health monitoring, and provided medicines subject to availability. To maintain the physical health of PDL, they are allowed daily sunning and physical exercises.

  3. Educational Program

         The educational program aims to provide opportunities for PDL to achieve mandatory education. For this reason, BJMP adopted the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education for the PDL to earn their elementary and high school diplomas. Teachers in the jail-based ALS are BJMP Personnel who are professional teachers and trained on the Instructional Method for ALS. In jails where there are no personnel trained to handle ALS classes, the ALS teachers would be coming from the Department of Education. All PDL enrolled in the ALS earn their respective Time Allowance for Teaching, Studying and Mentoring (TASTM) pursuant to RA 10592.

  4. Skills Training/Enhancement Program

         The objective of the skills training program is to equip the PDL with technical/vocational skills which they can use in seeking employment or starting their own business after release from confinement. To make the PDL as competitive as other potential job seekers, the skills trainings preferred are those accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so that the PDL will be able to earn National Certifications. Thus, only the PDL who meet the eligibility requirements of the specific skills training program being offered can participate.

  5. Livelihood Program

         The livelihood program presents income-generating activities to PDL during their confinement where they are able to earn for their personal upkeep and for financial support to their families. The capital for the livelihood project are either from BJMP for BJMP-funded projects or from the common fund of a group of PDL for non-BJMP funded projects. Examples of continuing and most popular livelihood projects of PDL are bags and purses, bonsai made of beads, pastries, rugs, paper crafts, and wood crafts. To help the PDL earn from these livelihood projects, the jail unit Welfare and Development Officer (UWDO) facilitates the sale of the products in display centers or livelihood caravans organized by the local government units and other service providers. In addition, online or e-marketing of PDL products is also run by the jail unit Welfare and Development Office.

  6. Behavioral Management/Modification Program

         BJMP implements the Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) to manage and modify behaviors of PDL with the goal of positively changing their thinking and behavior through structured group processes. The program endeavors to teach and model positive thinking, pro-social values, good decision-making, and positive coping. Through the program, PDL are trained on socially acceptable ways of behaving and relating with their fellow PDL and with personnel and visitors thereby fostering a therapeutic jail environment and maintaining a peaceful communal atmosphere.

  7. Interfaith Program

         PDL are provided with the opportunity to practice their faith while under custody without discrimination, subject only to usual safety and security measures. The BJMP chaplains and imams provide different religious services such as but not limited to mass celebrations, communal prayers, spiritual counseling, catechism, and others. Religious organizations and their respective ministers/pastors and leaders are accredited by BJMP to facilitate their regular contact with PDL for the provision of religious services.

  8. Cultural and Sports Program

         The cultural program aims to promote camaraderie among PDL, encourage the development of self-confidence and sharing of cultural talents as form of positive entertainment. Cultural activities allowed in jails include dance, singing, theatre/drama, and art workshops. Also, through this program, PDL experience some sense of social normalcy through the communal celebrations of socio-cultural events like birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Lent and Easter, Ramadan, local festivals and other similar activities.

  9. Paralegal Program

         The main objective of the Paralegal Program is to address the overcrowding in jail facilities. Through the paralegal program, PDL are assisted in availing of the different early modes of release. Regional and jail paralegal officers conduct continuous informative seminars/orientations to PDL on their rights, modes of early release, and other paralegal/legal remedies which can be availed of by them. Other paralegal services include paralegal counseling and case follow-up in the courts by the jail paralegal officers.

  10. E-Dalaw

         The E-DALAW service is an alternative to the traditional face-to-face visitation between PDL and respective families. This service enables the PDL to connect with his/her family through a supervised video call and chat. The program is conceptualized specifically to cater to PDL whose family members cannot go to the jail for actual visit because of the long distance to the jail from the residence or workplace of the family members. However, in case of jail lockdown by reason of public health emergency where visitation is suspended, all PDL are allowed to use the e-dalaw to communicate with their families on equitable rotation basis.

Support Services

  1. Human Rights Desks

         Every jail facility operates a 24-hour Human Rights Desk handled by a designated Human Rights Affairs Officer. The main function of the Human Rights Desk is to receive complaints concerning human rights violations from PDL and visitors and to report the complaints thru the appropriate reporting system to the concerned BJMP offices and to the Commission on Human Rights for investigation and appropriate action.

  2. Help Desk

         In line with the government’s policy of providing timely and speedy access to government services, each jail facility has established its own Help Desk managed by a designated Held Desk Officer. The Help Desk functions as a referral unit where PDL and visitors can lodge their request for assistance concerning personal or family needs. These requests are evaluated by the Help Desk Officer and all requests for assistance that cannot be addressed by the jail are referred to the concerned government agencies for appropriate action.

  3. Referrals for Aftercare

         Although BJMP recognizes the importance of aftercare program for PDL to be released for them to start a new, it is limited only to providing welfare and developmental programs to PDL while they are in custody. Nevertheless, to ensure continuity of care of PDL upon release, the jail unit Welfare and Development Officer facilitate referrals to different community resources. These referrals addressed to the local government units, non-government organizations and the business sector usually include but not limited to seeking immediate financial assistance for PDL’s repatriation, employment/livelihood assistance, educational/vocational training scholarships, medical and psychological interventions.

Special Program for Vulnerable Groups

  1. Services for Pregnant PDL

         Pregnant PDL, by reason of their medical condition, are given special attention by the jail nurses to ensure compliance to pre-natal and post-natal care, timely provision of other pregnancy-related needs, and assistance for the care of the newborn until the latter is endorsed to the immediate family or accredited child-caring agency.

  2. Services for Senior Citizen PDL and PDL with Disabilities

         In addition to implementing measures to protect the senior citizen PDL and PDL with disabilities from discrimination and establishing functional priority lanes for them, the primary policy is to link them to the local Office of Senior Citizen Affairs Office (OSCA) and Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) for the acquisition of their respective Identification Cards. The respective identification cards issued by the local government unit are the PDL’s access key to the different services for senior citizens and persons with disabilities mandated by the Senior Citizen’s Act and Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.

  3. Services for PDL with other Special Needs

         PDL who are members of the LGBT community maybe segregated from the general population in terms of housing to prevent potential mistreatments towards them by reason of their gender expression and other vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, they receive the same programs and services provided to the general population and they are encouraged to participate fully in the socio-cultural activities of the jail.

  4. Mental Health Services

         In general, preventive mental health aimed at reducing incidence of mental health disorders and developing positive coping mechanisms are provided to all PDL. Preventive mental health interventions include informative seminars on stress management, psycho-educational counseling and other supportive psychological group activities. Likewise, psycho-social support services or stress debriefing to address trauma are facilitated for PDL after the occurrence of untoward jail incidents or in the aftermath of devastating calamities directly affecting the PDL.

  5. Drug Counseling for PDL with Substance use Disorder

         PDL with substance use disorder or have history of illegal drug use and who were granted plea bargaining under A.M. No. 18-03-16 SC, are provided with drug counseling using the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK) approach. The KKDK is a psycho-educational drug counseling program developed consisting of twenty-four (24) modules: eighteen (18) modules to be completed by the PDL in a small group setting with fellow PDL and six (6) family modules to be participated by the PDL’s family. The drug counseling runs for maximum duration of four (4) months.