Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
 Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill aims to consolidate the management, supervision, and control of all categories of 
jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). At present, R.A. No. 6975, 
otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, mandates 
only the city, municipal and district jails under the BJMP. On the other hand, provincial and sub-
provincial jails are the responsibility of its respective provincial governments.  
The intention of this bill is to unify the management, supervision and control of all jails, so 
that policies and administration could be standardized and integrated, resulting in consistent 
experiences across all categories. 
One of the advantages in transferring the management, supervision, and control of 
provincial and sub-provincial jails to the BJMP is the administration of more effective 
rehabilitation programs. As such, the BJMP, has four (4) major thrusts: (a) livelihood projects, (b) 
education and vocational training, (c) recreation and sports, and (d) religious and spiritual 
activities. However, these programs, may or may not available in province-run jails, as there is no 
policy mandating such, with our current legal set up.  
Rectify this disparity is sought in the hope that with better correctional programs, offenders 
and criminals have a better chance at re-integration into society, after serving their sentences. In 
light of this, the swift approval of this measure is earnestly sought.  
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
4th District, Province of Leyte 
August 3, 2023
10:43 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
 Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT  
TRANSFERRING TO THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, 
THE MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISION, AND CONTROL OF PROVINCIAL AND SUB-
PROVINCIAL JAILS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DEPARTMENT OF 
INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1990, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Section 61 of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as the 
“Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 is hereby amended as follows: 
"Section 61. Powers and Functions. - The Jail Bureau shall exercise supervision and 
control over ALL PROVINCIAL, SUB-PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT, 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 effectivity of this Act.]” 
SEC. 2. Section 62 of Republic Act No. 6975 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 62. Organization. -- The Jail Bureau shall be headed by a Chief who shall be 
assisted by a deputy chief. 
 The Jail Bureau shall be composed of PROVINCIAL, SUB-PROVINCIAL, city and 
municipal jails each headed by a PROVINCIAL, city or municipal jail warden: 
Provided, That, in the case of large PROVINCES, cities and municipalities, a district 
jail with subordinate jails headed by a district jail warden may be established as 
necessary.  
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The Chief of the Jail Bureau shall recommend to the Secretary the organizational 
structure and staffing pattern of the Bureau, as well as 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 of Republic Act No. 6975 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 63. Establishment of PROVINCIAL, SUB-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 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 
transfer to a medical institution.  
SEC. 4. Provincial Jail Administrator, Sub-Provincial Jail Administrator. - The head 
of the provincial and sub-provincial jails within the province will have the rank of 
Superintendent and shall be appointed by the Chief of the Jail Bureau, the appointment of 
which must be attested by the Civil Service Commission, Provided, That, if the jail population 
is 1,000 or more inmates the warden should be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of 
a Master's Degree in management, public administration, public safety, criminology, penology, 
sociology, and national security administration, defense studies, and or related disciplines from 
a recognized institution of learning and must satisfactorily pass the necessary training and 
career courses for such position, as may be established by law. 
SEC. 5. Management, Supervision and Control of Provincial and Sub-Provincial 
Jails. -- The management, supervision and control of provincial and sub-provincial jails, 
including all its properties, equipment and finances, are hereby transferred to the Bureau of 
Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). 
 Provided, however that a three (3)-year transition period is hereby established to 
commence on the date of effectivity of this Act. During the transition period the Provincial 
Government shall subsidize the subsistence allowance of inmates and the maintenance of the 
jail facility including but not limited to electric and water expenses and necessary repairs. 
 The transfer, and/or absorption of the functions, appropriations, funds, records 
equipment, facilities, rights, and other assets of the Provincial and Sub-Provincial jails to  the 
BJMP shall be without prejudice to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known 
as the Local Government Code,  as amended, that are not otherwise inconsistent with this Act. 
All personnel of provincial and sub-provincial jails unless removed for cause, may be 
absorbed by the BJMP, provided, that such guidelines must be consistent with the provisions 
of Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of 


Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004, as amended and its 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
The Chief of the BJMP shall,  within six (6) months from the activity of this Act, 
recommend the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the assumed provincial and sub 
provincial jails.  
SEC. 6. Special Oversight Committee.  - A Special Oversight Committee is hereby 
created composed of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as 
chairman, the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management as co-chairman, and 
the Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Chairman of the Commission 
on Audit, the President of the League of Provinces as members, which shall plan and oversee 
the expeditious implementation of the transfer and absorption into the Bureau of all existing 
provincial jail facilities, equipment, records, rights, liabilities, appropriations, installations, and 
other assets of the provincial and sub-provincial jails subject to just compensation under 
appropriate terms and conditions.  
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this act the oversight committee shall promulgate the rules and regulations 
necessary to ensure the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. — In case any provision of this Act or any portion thereof 
is declared unconstitutional by a competent court, other provisions shall not be affected 
thereby. 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, 
executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby 
repealed or amended as the case may be. ep 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (25) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,