THE release of over 22,000 detainees last year as part of COVID-19 pandemic response hardly made a dent in the living conditions of inmates as government auditors reported a 403 percent occupancy excess in 2020.
In hard numbers, this means more than five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are occupying an area ideally designed for only one individual.
The Commission on Audit said that as of December 31, 2020, total jail population stood at 115,336 even if the government only has room for 34,893. Still, the jail capacity has already seen a marked improvement from only 24,306 in 2019.
Year on year, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has also reduced jail population from 130,667 to 115,336.
Efforts to build up greater capacity were hampered by delays in 29 BJMP projects worth P2.303 billion, of which 23 have already breached their projected completion time.
The biggest of these are the six jail construction in Metro Manila with a tag price of P2.068 billion, followed by seven projects in BJMP Region 6 worth P101.4 million.
In its comment to the audit findings, the BJMP management said it has already worked out a system with its contractors to reduce delays by more than half working around the community quarantine and health restrictions.
The BJMP-NCR added that it is continuously implementing guidelines issued by the Supreme Court for the decongestion of jail facilities.
Also delayed were eight projects in Region 12, and one project each in Region 5 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
