MANILA: The Zamboanga City Jail and the 9th Judicial Region office in that city have joined forces to improve the living conditions of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) amid sweltering temperatures in the country due to the El Niño phenomenon.
This came after Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Peter Eisma visited the jail facility on May 6, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said in a news release on Thursday.
Eisma’s visit came after the Supreme Court, in Circular No. 131-2024, ordered judges to determine how PDLs are affected by the extreme heat and make a report on their conditions.
Zamboanga City Jail Male Dormitory warden, Jail Superintendent Xavier Solda noted that the jail is implementing consistent efforts and proactive measures in providing immediate health support to PDLs.
‘We are putting all efforts to ensure that the right to good health of our PDL remains a top priority of our unit together with our partners from the Zamboanga City Health Office, Zamboanga City Medica
l Center, and other health partners,’ Solda added.
He said the Health Service Unit of the jail maintains a 24/7 PDL health monitoring scheme supported by cell health aides to strictly monitor the health situation in the facility.
To ensure the regular supply of safe water in the facility on top of the regular water ration, the Zamboanga City Jail utilizes an elevated water tank, a cistern tank, and two horizontal stainless water tanks with a combined capacity of 17 cubic meters.
Each jail cells were recently installed with a water filtration system including the kitchen area in addition to the quarterly bacteriological examination of drinking water in the facility which was initiated by the management to avert potential health concerns on the water supply.
As early as December last year, the management of Zamboanga City Jail started to work on improving the airways and ventilation of each jail cell, removing blockades, and adding shades and plants to improve the natural cooling system in the facility.
‘W
e regularly advise our PDL to SIT and RELAKS. It is an acronym for Sabayang Inom ng Tubig at Regular na Ehersisyo, Ligo At Kalinisan sa Selda,’ he added.
For the first time in years, Zamboanga City Jail Male Dormitory posted zero cases of conjunctivitis (sore eyes) and scabies which are prevalent diseases in the facility for decades.
Earlier this year, BJMP chief Jail Director Ruel Rivera ordered the close monitoring of the health condition of PDL in all district, city, and municipal jails in the country.
He also directed all regional offices to ensure enough medicines for prevalent diseases among PDL, especially during summer.
Source: Philippines News Agency