TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. ^273
of tl)f
25 AUG 27 P1 :29 
\
RtCElVED BV:
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
TRANSFERRING THE CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE PROVINCIAL 
AND SUB-PROVINCIAL JAILS TO THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 11 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that"[t]he State values 
the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights." 
Meanwhile, Section 19 (1) of the Bill of Rights states that "excessive fines shall not be 
imposed, nor cruel, degrading, or inhuman punishment inflicted."
In December 2023, Philippine authorities in the United Nations Office on Drugs 
and Crime (UNODC) declared that the country ranked third in the world for jail and 
prison overcrowding, having the eleventh highest prison population in the world. In 
April 2025, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reported that the 
country's jails are now 298% congested, with 484 jails across the country holding a 
total of 115,791 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). These PDLs are subjected to 
inhumane living conditions compounded by insufficient medical and rehabilitative 
infrastructure, understaffed facilities, and inadequate sources of daily needs— 
conditions that infringe upon their constitutionally mandated right to humane 
treatment.
This measure seeks to rectify these systemic deficiencies by vesting the BJMP 
with comprehensive jurisdiction over all provincial and provincial jails, consolidating all 
local detention facilities under uniform national standards. This bill aims to ensure that


PDLs receive professional care from an agency specializing in custodial care and 
rehabilitation.
Therefore, urgent approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
iAA s,cint;
of tin’
25 AUG 27 PI :29
S. No.
SENATE
1273
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
TRANSFERRING THE CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE PROVINCIAL 
AND SUB-PROVINCIAL JAILS TO THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "JailIntegration Act".
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the
3 
general welfare and safeguard the basic rights of persons deprived of liberty. Further,
4 
the State recognizes the responsibility of the State to strengthen government
5 
capability aimed towards the strengthening of the delivery of basic services to the
6 
citizenry through the institutionalization of highly efficient and competent jail services.
7 
Toward this end, the State shall provide uniform standards and policies in the
8 
administration of jails and the safekeeping of persons deprived of liberty by placing
9 
the administration of local jails to a single authority.
10 
Sec. 3. Transfer of Provincial and Sub-Provincial Jaii - The control and
11 
supervision over provincial and sub-provincial jail is hereby transferred to the Bureau
12 
of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
13 
For this purpose, the management, control, and supervision of existing
14 
provincial and sub-provincial jails, including all their property, equipment, and
15 
finances, shall be transferred to the BJMP, subject to existing laws.
16 
Sec. 4. Transition Period. - For orderly transfer of management and operation
17 
of provincial and sub-provincial jails, a three (3) year transition period is hereby
18 
established, to commence from the date of the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That
1


1 
during the transition period, the concerned Provincial Government shall continue
2 
funding the subsistence allowance of inmates and the maintenance of jail facility
3 
including but not limited to electric and water expenses and necessary repairs until
4 
such time that the total and full control and supervision of the facility has been
5 
transferred to the BJMP.
6 
Sec. 5. Provincial and Sub-Provincial Jail Employees. - The existing employees
7 
and personnel of Provincial and Sub-Provincial Jails shall enjoy security of tenure and
8 
shall automatically be absorbed by the BJMP subject to the qualification standards as
9 
provided for in Republic Act No. 9263 or o the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau
10 
of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004", as amended, and
11 
other applicable laws, pertinent rules and regulation of the Civil Service Commission
12 
(CSC): Provided, That those who will fail to comply with the qualification standards at
13 
the time of transfer shall be given five (5) years from the lapse of the transition period
14 
as provided in this Act to complete the necessary requirements for the concerned
15 
position: Provided, further, That for purposes of computation of retirement and
16 
pension benefits, the term "active service" shall include services rendered by
17 
employees affected in the provincial and sub-provincial jail prior to the enactment of
18 
this Act: Provided, finally. That the Provincial Government is hereby encouraged to
19 
automatically absorb those employees who have already reached the mandatory
20 
retirement age in BJMP at the time of effectivity.
21 
Employees opting to be separated from the service as a result of the transfer
22 
under the provisions of this Act shall receive separation benefits in accordance with
23 
existing laws. In addition, those who are qualified to retire shall be allowed to do so
24 
and be entitled to all benefits provided for under existing retirement laws.
25 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The initial amount necessary for the implementation
26 
of this Act shall be charged against the current fiscal year's appropriations of the BJMP
27 
and the concerned provincial government. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
28 
for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
29 
Appropriations Act.
30 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of the Interior
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and Local Government and BJMP, in coordination with the Provincial Governments,
32 
CSC, and other stakeholders, shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this


1 
Act, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of
2 
this Act.
3 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
4 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
5 
remain in full force or effect.
6 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Sections 61, 62, and 63 of Republic Act No. 6975,
7 
or the "Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990", as amended,
8 
are hereby amended or modified accordingly.
9 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction,
10 
rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or
11 
modified accordingly.
12 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
13 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,