In an interview, District Jail Warden Bryan Rañada shared that there are almost 20 out of 190 Person Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in San Jose District Jail who have not been visited by their families since their admittance.
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Occidental Mindoro is eyeing to visit the families of their PDLs, particularly those who pay seldom to no visits to the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) to know its causes and improve their visitation programs.
According to BJMP District Jail Warden Bryan Rañada, around 20 PDLs in San Jose District Jail (SJDJ) have never been visited by their families.
“Isa po sa mga magiging programa po ng San Jose District Jail ay mabisita yung pamilya ng mga PDL na hindi talaga nakakadalaw para at least maaral natin o magkaroon tayo ng case study bakit hindi talaga sila [nakakadalaw] para malaman din natin kung ano yung alternative na pwede nating i-offer [para makabisita sila],” he explained.
Part of the visitation is coordination with the Barangay LGU to determine their resources that can help connect the PDLs with their families.
One of the challenges that the SJDJ sees is monetary constraint, particularly for those who live far from the jail facility. “Karamihan po talaga ay kumikita lang ng sapat lang sa kanilang pang araw-araw na buhay kaya naisasantabi ang pagdalaw sa mga kapamilya nila nasa bahay kanlungan natin,” the Warden shared.
He added that some of the families that they have previously interviewed shared that they spend almost P500 for a roundtrip fare from their homes to the jail facility and back; a substantial amount for most families.
The Bureau provides e-dalaw or video calls for those families that are not able to physically visit the jail facility. However, Rañada shared that there are instances where a stable internet connection from the families’ end is not accessible, “Yung ibang hindi nakakadalaw ay wala ring capability to adapt the e-dalaw at yung mismong area nila ay possible na wala rin access sa internet.”
The District Jail Warden underscored that visitation of family members is important part of the PDLs’ welfare, “[Kapag hindi sila nabibisita, nangangamba po sila kasi syempre natural po sa ating mga Pilipino yung iniisip natin yung pamilya…Malaking bagay po kung nabibisita yung mga PDL natin [dahil] nagkakaroon po sila ng garantiya na maayos ang pamilya nila sa labas [ng jail facility].”
The visitation is part of the activities for National Correctional Consciousness Week 2023. (DFSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
