TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 886
(©Hit? of tijc s-'t' ftarj.
25 AUG-4 P6 :14
RtCEiVEOBV:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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
Republic Act No. 6975 provides that the Bureau of Jail Management and 
Penology (BJMP) shall exercise supervision and control over all city and municipal jails, 
while provincial governments shall supervise and control provincial jails. The prevailing 
setup leads to a fragmented administration of correctional system in the country 
employing varying sets of standards of care for and safekeeping of persons deprived 
of liberty.
Such arrangement also translates to different qualifications and benefits for jail 
personnel tasked with the custody of PDLs. For instance, some provinces cannot afford 
to provide allowances such as hazard pay or subsistence pay due to limited financial 
resources. Also, it was learned that while the BJMP requires municipal or city jails to 
be headed by a graduate of a four-year course, certain provinces allow those who 
were not able to complete tertiary education to occupy the position.
This measure, as reported out by the Senate Committee on Public Order and 
Dangerous Drugs and already approved on Third Reading by the Senate during the


19th Congress, seeks singular stewardship of the BJMP over all local jails and 
comprehensive implementation of a uniform national standard in the operational 
management thereof towards a more effective rehabilitation of inmates.
This proposed legislation, covering the transfer of more than eighty (80) 
provincial and sub-provincial jails to the competent leadership of a national authority, 
is one of the legislative priorities identified by the BJMP and a step towards the 
direction of a unified penology and corrections system envisioned under the Philippine 
Development Plan 2023-2028 to achieve an enhanced administration of justice.
Further, this aims to relieve the provincial governments with the responsibility 
of jail management and maintaining jail facilities to focus on the delivery of basic social 
services and more urgent needs of their constituency.
The immediate passage of this bill is hereby recommended.
jt.L
Y E3ERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
886
; 
of lijc S'rrrildr^
25 AUG-4 P6:14
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Jaii Integration 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 its responsibility to strengthen government capability aimed
5 
towards the strengthening of the delivery of basic services to the citizenry through the
6 
institutionalization of highly efficient and competent jail services.
7 
Towards 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 its property, equipment, and finances,
15 
shall be transferred to the BJMP, subject to existing laws.


1 
Sec. 4. Transition Period. - For orderly transfer of management and operation
2 
of provincial and sub-provincial jails, a three (3) year transition period is hereby
3 
established, to commence from the date of the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That
4 
during the transition period, the concerned Provincial Government shall continue
5 
funding the subsistence allowance of inmates and the maintenance of jail facility
6 
including, but not limited to, electric and water expenses and necessary repairs until
7 
such time that the total and full control and supervision of the facility has been
8 
transferred to the BJMP.
9 
Sec. 5. ProvinciaiandSub-ProvinciaiJaiiEmployees. - The existing employees
10 
and personnel of provincial and sub-provincial jails shall enjoy security of tenure and
11 
shall be absorbed by the BJMP subject to qualification standards as provided for in
12 
Republic Act No. 9263, otherwise known as the "Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau
13 
of Jail Management and Penology Professionalization Act of 2004", as amended, and
14 
other applicable laws, pertinent rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission
15 
(CSC): Provided, That the BJMP shall take proactive measures in training and
16 
enhancing the capacity of employees and personnel of provincial and sub-provincial
17 
jails to obtain the necessary qualifications: Provided, further. That those who will fail
18 
to comply with the qualification standards at the time of transfer shall be given five
19 
(5) years from the lapse of the transition period as provided in this Act to complete
20 
the necessary requirements for the concerned position: Provided, furthermore. That
21 
for purposes of computation of retirement and pension benefits, the term "active
22 
service" shall include services rendered by employees affected in the provincial and
23 
sub-provincial jail prior to the enactment of this Act: Provided, finally. That the
24 
Provincial Government Is hereby encouraged to absorb those employees who have
25 
already reached the mandatory retirement age in BJMP at the time of effectivity.
26 
Employees opting to be separated from the service as a result of the transfer
27 
under the provisions of this Act shall receive separation benefits in accordance with
28 
existing laws. In addition, those who qualified to retire shall be allowed to do so and
29 
be entitled to all benefits provided for under existing retirement laws.
30 
The BJMP, in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development
31 
Authority (TESDA) and other government agencies, shall also provide training
32 
programs for the upskilling and reskilling of the affected personnel and employees.


1 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. -The initial amount necessary for the implementation
2 
of this Act shall be charged against the current fiscal year's appropriations of the BJMP
3 
and concerned provincial government. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
4 
the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
5 
Appropriations Act.
6 
Sec. 7. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. -The Department of the Interior
7 
and Local Government and BJMP, in coordination with the Provincial Governments,
8 
CSC, and other stakeholders, shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this
9 
Act, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of
10 
this Act.
11 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
12 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
13 
remain in full force or effect.
14 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Sections 61, 62 and 63 of Republic Act No. 6975,
15 
otherwise known as the "Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of
16 
1990", as amended, are hereby amended or modified accordingly.
17 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction,
18 
rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or
19 
modified accordingly.
20 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
21 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,