THE jail facilities in Davao Region still have no coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Davao Region (BJMP-Davao) said.
BJMP-Davao spokesperson Jail Inspector Edo Lobenia told VoxPop Davao Thursday, April 23, that stricter measures have been in place inside their jail facilities across the region to ensure the safety and protection of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the respiratory disease.
"Safety precautionary measures are established in our jail facilities in compliance with the Directive of our National Headquarters and the Department of Health," Lobenia said.
He added that their regional doctor and nurses are constantly monitoring the health status of the PDLs.
"So far, our PDLs are in good condition. We are aware of the risk and vulnerability of our facilities from this highly infectious disease," he said. "At present, our jails in the Davao Region are Covid free."
Since March 20, BJMP Davao has implemented lockdown in all its jail facilities.
They suspended any jail activities including visitations of the immediate family of the PDLs and their counsel but allowed an electronic visitation or E-Dalaw instead.
"This is an alternative way for PDL and their families to communicate and reach out using social media platforms such as Messenger and Skype despite the pandemic," Lobenia said.
Lobenia said they are doing their best to ensure that contamination will not happen inside their facility which is vulnerable considering the problem of congestion.
He also said that since March, they no longer accept new PDLs inside their facility.
BJMP-Davao also prohibited its personnel from going home to their respective residences for possible contamination. They are required to stay inside the facility while rendering duty to prevent them from becoming carriers of the virus.
"It has been a month already, (since) our personnel are away from the comforts of their homes to be able to render duty 24/7. We encourage and appeal to the public to stay at home in order to prevent the further spread of the virus," Lobenia said.
As of April, BJMP Davao recorded a total of 4,615 jail population. In Davao City Jail, there are a total of 2,105 while Davao City Female Jail has 306, and Davao City Jail Annex with 439.
"We hope and pray that this status will remain [Covid-19 free] as our country faces this pandemic. We are expected to render the highest form of service in this time of public health emergency," he said.
It was reported by VoxPop Philippines earlier that Cebu City Jail recorded the highest number of coronavirus infections on Wednesday, April 22, at 127.
