THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under Section 61 of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as 
the "Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990", the 
supervision and control over jails are lodged in different entities. City and 
municipal jails are governed by the Bureau of Jail Management and 
Penolom. On the other hand, provincial jails are under the supervision 
and control of the provincial government. 
It appears that provincial jails which are directly under the 
supervision and control of the provincial government have better facilities 
and are better managed as compared to that of the city and municipal 
jails. On the contrary, there are reports that city and municipal jails are 
overcrowded, Inmates must sleep on their feet and often go hungry. 
Food rations are so meager that some prison wardens reportedly allowed 
wives or children to move with inmates or stay in the prison compound 
because they could help feed prisoners, while lack of potable water and 
poor ventilation continued to cause health problems. 
In sum, the 
present jail conditions has led to other problems like the spread of 
disease among inmates, jail breaks and sanitation problems, which will 
eventually affect the locality wherein the jail is situated. 
It is believed that the interest of the prisoners and detainees as 
well as that of the locality shall be better served if the city and municipal 
jails are placed under the direct supervision and control of the local 
government units concerned. A well-managed, secured clean, adequately 
equipped and sanitary jail will render the process of rehabilitation of 
offenders a lot easier. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to create a Jail Management and 
Penology Office in every Province, City, and Municipality directly under 
the control and supervision of the local chief executive, thereby 
transferring the power of supervision and control over city and municipal 
jails presently exercised by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
to the local chief executive concerned. Under the proposed measure, the 
funds already allocated for the operation and maintenance of city and 


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municipal jails shall be transferred to the local government units. 
Thereafter, the budgetary requirements shall be included in the annual 
appropriation of the local government units. 
Premises considered, the passage of the bill is earnestly requested. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
6. B. NO. '., ''ci 
+J 
J. 3 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
AN ACT 
DEVOLVING THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER CITY AND 
MUNICIPAL JAILS FROM THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. There shall be a Jail Management and Penology 
Office, hereinafter referred to as the Jail Office, in every Province, City, 
and Municipality consisting of officers and members of the Bureau of Jail 
Management and Penology (BJMP) provided under Republic Act No. 
6975, otherwise known as the 'Department of the Interior and Local 
Government Act of 1990". 
SEC. 2. The Chief Executive of the local government unit 
concerned shall exercise direct supervision and control over the Office 
and the jails within its jurisdiction. The Secretary of the Interior and 
Local Government shall formulate the organizational structure and 
staffing pattern of the Office as well as the disciplinary machinery for 
officers and men of the Office in accordance with existing laws. 


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SEC. 3. The funds already allocated for the operation of the City 
and Munikipal Jails shall be transferred from the BJMP to the local 
government units upon the effectivity of 
this Act. 
Thereafter, the 
funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in 
the annual budget of the local government unit concerned. 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision 
of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or 
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in 
full force and effect. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act 6975 
and other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or portions 
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Effectidty Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days following its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers 
of general circulation. 
Approved,