The Baguio City Jail Female Dormitory reported that the congestion rate of the said facility is now around 318 percent.
Jail Senior Inspector Joan Bacayan said that the female dormitory has a current population of 67 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with a work force of 18 male and 24 female jail officers.
She added that there are some 35 PDLS facing drug-related cases while 32 PDLs have been charged with non-drug related cases, with estafa as the leading criminal offense.
However, the jail officer claimed that the ideal occupancy of the female dormitory is 16 PDLs.
Bacayan pointed out that despite being heavily congested, the female dormitory was able to maintain zero escapade and zero jail disturbance record with other strongholds such as a drug free and smoke free facility, a health department-certified tuberculosis DOTS center and a Safety Seal accredited jail.
According to her, the female dormitory continues to prioritize the rehabilitation and re-integration of PDLs through various livelihood programs.
The Baguio City Jail Female Dormitory was able to conduct and expand several initiatives such as bayong bag making, beads making, and crocheted bags where 36 PDLs were trained in creating high quality, fashionable handicraft products.
Further, the PDLs also ventured on baking and cake decorating which was aimed to providing development opportunities to the PDLs while under detention.
Bacayan stipulated that the facility was instrumental in promoting and disseminating PDL-produced livelihood products through its participation in designated trade fairs and commercial caravans in the city.
She explained that the aforesaid initiatives has resulted in income generation for the PDL population where some PDLs were able to achieve a level of financial self-sufficiency that allowed them to extend financial support to their dependents, even during their incarceration.
Bacayan added that the facility embarked on strategies to sustain the implementation of the livelihood programs such as the Skill Mo, Share mo, an avenue for any skilled personnel or PDL to share their skills and talents among PDLs, especially to the newly committed ones.
Moreover, the facility conducted several webinars to further develop the skills and knowledge of the PDLs such as webinars on mental health and wellness attended by all PDLs to provide them with coping mechanisms and emotional support; entrepreneurship and financial literacy to equip them with essential skills to manage personal finances and understand basic enterprising principles and technical skills trainings in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. By Dexter A. See