Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,__& 732

Introduced by REP. TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to grant the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology control and
supervision over provincial jails.

The advancement of a national standard in the operational management of all
local jails, which include provincial, city and municipal jails, is of paramount importance
to better uphold the basic and constitutional rights of inmates who are detained and
serving their sentence in jail facilities. With the uniform standards firmly established and
faithfully observed, there will be consistent and boosted efficiency in the implementation
of the plans and programs that are geared toward the more effective rehabilitation of
inmates.

At present, Republic Act No. 6975 otherwise known as the Department of the
Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 provides that “provincial jails shall be
supervised and controlled by the provincial government within its jurisdiction.” Hence,
under the said law, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BIMP) is not tasked
with the operational management, supervision and control of all the existing provincial
jails.

Towards the vision of establishing a national standard in the operational
management of all local jails, it is proposed to amend RA 6975 such that the Bureau of
Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) shall now be tasked with the supervision and
control of all local jail facilities, including provincial jails, This will establish a uniform
and standardized policy on the administration and supervision of all local jails.

‘The BJMP is a specialized agency whose goals are specifically geared towards the
safekeeping, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. Thus, by giving BJMP the sole
control of local jails, the objectives of public safety and institutional correction through
stable jail supervision and management could be better attained


The provincial government will also be released from the task of supervising and
maintaining a jail facility and to focus on more pressing responsibilities in the province

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is highly recommended.

TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

27382

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP, TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT.

AN ACT GRANTING TO THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND
PENOLOGY THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER PROVINCIAL JAILS,
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 of Republic No. 6975 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec 61, Power 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 effectivity of this Act.)”

Section 2, Section 62 of the same Act is also hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 62. Organization
xxx
‘The Jail Bureau shall be composed of Provincial, city and municipal jails,
each headed by a Provincial, 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.

Xxx


Section 3. Section 63 of the same Act is likewise hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Sec. 63. Establishment of Provincial, City or Municipal Jail. ~ There
shall be established and maintained in every 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 or transfer to the national penitentiary, or violent mentally ill person
who endangers himself or the safety of other duly certified as such by the proper medical
or health officer, pending the transfer to a medical institution,

xxx’

Section 4, Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary
of the Interior and Local Government shall promulgate the rules and regulations
necessary to ensure the effective implementation of this Act

Section 5, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,