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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _2965

Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

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 government 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 crucial role in the rehabilitation of persons who have
violated our laws. It helps in transforming criminals into becoming more
productive members of 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 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 because you need overall
coordination between the national leadership of the BJMP and the
provincial government vis-a-vis jail management.

At present, the BJMP has four (4) major areas of rehabilitation: (a)
Livelihood Projects; (b) Educational and Vocational Training; (c)
Recreation and Sports; and (d) Religious Spiritual Activities. These
programs, which are continuously implemented to reform offenders and
transform them into law-abiding citizens, will certainly benefit the
inmates of provincial jails.


Since one of the BJMP’s main functions is to formulate policies and
guidelines in the administration of all district, city, and municipal jails
nationwide, the BJMP must also be allowed to implement its policies and
programs in provincial jails. This will lead to uniformity in the training of
jail personnel, security measures for the control of inmates, jail facilities
and even programs that will promote the general welfare of inmates and
personnel.

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

FRANCISCO JO§E F. MATUGAS II
Surigao del Noyte, First District
(Siargao Island)


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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2965
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

AN ACT
TRANSFERRING THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER
PROVINCIAL JAILS FROM THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 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 Jail Bureau 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]


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SEC. 2. Section 62, Chapter V of Republic Act No. 6975 is hereby

amended to read as follows:

“SEC 62. Organization. - The Jail Bureau shall be
headed by a Chief who shall be assisted by a deputy chief.

The jail Bureau shall composed of, PROVINCIAL,
city and municipal jails, each headed by a [city or
municipal] jail warden: Provided, That, in the case of
large cities and municipalities, a district jail with
subordinate jails headed by a district jail warden may be
established as necessary.

The Chief of the Jail Bureau shall recommend to the
Secretary the organizational structure and staffing pattern
of the Bureau as well as the disciplinary machinery for
officers and men of the Bureau in accordance with the
guidelines set forth herein and as prescribed in Section 85

of this Act.”

SEC. 3. Section 63, Chapter V of Republic Act No. 6975 is hereby

amended to read as follows:

“Section 63. Establishment of PROVINCIAL,
District, City or Municipal Jail. - There shall be
established and maintained in every PROVINCE,
district, city and municipality a secured, clean
adequately equipped and sanitary jail for the custody
and safekeeping of PROVINCIAL, city and
municipal prisoners, any fugitive from justice, or

person detained awaiting investigation or trial


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and/or transfer to the national penitentiary, and/or
violent mentally ill person who endangers himself or
the safety of others, duly certified as such by the
proper medical or health officer, pending the transfer
to a medical institution.

“The PROVINCIAL, municipal or city jail
service shall preferably be headed by a graduate of a
four (4) year course in psychology, psychiatry,
sociology, nursing, social work or criminology who
shall assist in the immediate rehabilitation of
individuals or detention of prisoners. Great care
must be exercised so that the human rights of these
prisoners are respected and protected, and their
spiritual and physical well-being are properly and

promptly attended to.”

SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders and other presidential
issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general

circulation.
Approved,