Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quejon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
15’ Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4281

Introduced by:
REP. FRANCISCO T. MATUGAS
15T District, Surigao del Norte (Siargao Island)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to transfer the supervision and control over all
provincial jails from the provincial government to the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology (BJMP).

Peace and order has always been a perennial issue plaguing the
national as well as the local government units. As one of the pillars of
our law enforcement system, the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology plays a very special role in the rehabilitation of persons who
had violated our laws. If helps in transforming criminals into becoming
more productive members our society.

Under Section 61 of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as
the “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act 1990," all
provincial jails are placed under the supervision and control of the
provincial government while the city and municipal jails are supervised
and controlled by the BJMP. With this set up, it is difficult to establish an
integrated approach to jail management as overall coordination
between the national leadership of the BJMP and the provincial
government vis-&-vis jail management can hardly be done.

At present, the BJMP has four (4) major programs, namely:

1) Inmates custody, security and control program:

2) Inmates welfare and development program (Rehabilitation
programs);

3) Decongestion program; and

4) Good governance


With the provincial government controlling the provincial jails, the
BJMP cannot implement ifs policies and programs over these jails.
Hence, there is lack of uniformity in the training of jail personnel;
livelihood projects, educational and vocational trainings vary and
even the custody and security of inmates are not assured, thus making
good governance impossible to achieve.

In view of the foregoing, early approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.

FRANCISCO T. MATUGAS


Poniwes?
Republic of the Philippines
House os Repuesentatsves
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
15' Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 4281

Introduced By:
REP. FRANCISCO T. MATUGAS
1! District, Surigao del Norte (Siargao Island)

AN ACT
TRANSFERING THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER PROVINCIAL JAILS FROM
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNEMNT TO THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND
PENOLOGY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT
OF 1990”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 61, Chapter V of Republic Act No. 6975 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 61, Powers and Functions- The Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP) shall exercise supervision and control over all provincial, city
and municipal jails. [The provincial jails shall be supervised and controlled by
the provincial government within its jurisdiction, whose expenses shall be
subsidized by the National Government for not more than three (3) years
after the affectivity of this Act].”

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,