LCJ CONTINUOUSLY GEARS TOWARD GENUINE DEVELOPMENT
LAOAG CITY JAIL has gone a long way since the assumption of J/SINSP ROQUE CONSTANTINO A SISON as the City Jail Warden last September 9, 2009.
Looking back, before Sison took over, LCJ was one of the jails in the country which is left behind in terms of physical facility development besides having a problem of lapses in security that resulted to a security breach. These among other pressing problems that needed to be addressed immediately prompted Sison to buckle down and work as soon as he assumed his post. He wanted to focus on the inmates’ welfare and discipline and transform the jail into a more conducive habitat for the inmates, and put all things in order within the jail premises. He can only do so much but he needed the collaborative efforts of the personnel including the inmates, various GOs and NGOs, capable private individuals, and more importantly, he needed to win the heart of no less than the City Mayor, HON. MICHAEL V. FARIÑAS.
The warden made constant visitations to the city mayor to propose and discuss his plans and programs and eventually get his full support. In one of his meetings, Sison informed the mayor that the city jail has a big potential for development particularly in terms of its physical facility set-up but in order to realize his plans and programs for the development of the jail, the problem on security needs to be addressed initially.
With the outpouring of support coming from various organizations and religious groups more particularly from the city government through the mayor, the vision of Sison for Laoag City Jail is not far from reality.
Being a development-oriented leader himself, the city mayor is very much aware how earnest the warden was in developing and transforming the jail. Without any hesitations and delays, he immediately approved a budget amounting to P894,314.24 for the vertical elevation of the existing perimeter wall surrounding the jail premises; the construction of a guard tower station which is now being manned by two (2) jail officers guarding the whole perimeter at the back portion; and the construction of another sentry station in the front area right beside the warden’s barracks which now serves as the main entry/exit checkpoint for all incoming and outgoing visitors. The perimeter wall bordering the jail and the City Engineering Office and the perimeter wall surrounding the back portion are now elevated from its original height to six (6) meters.
Still in the aspect of jail security management and control, it was through the initiative of the warden that the mayor approved a budget amounting to P110,000.00 for the installation of four (4) closed-circuit television surveillance cameras in strategic areas to enhance the over-all security of the jail, with a recorder and monitor installed at the warden’s office. An additional P10,000.00 was also provided for the installation of a new enclosed main gate, the installation of additional barbed wires above the main building and the installation of additional control gates in all entry and exit points within the jail premises.
The warden successfully got the nod of the mayor yet again for the approval of a budget amounting to P123,224.00 for the completion of the vertical expansion of the unelevated portion of the perimeter wall on the eastern side of the jail and the construction of a whole basketball court. It was unexpected though that while the construction of the perimeter wall is on-going, it was discovered during the clearing procedures that the roofing of the visitor’s area in the east wing is already dilapidated due to neglect or it might have been overlooked previously. This problem was brought by the warden to the mayor in one of his weekly staff meetings for immediate action, and as expected, a much needed renovation is underway. As of this writing, the construction of the perimeter wall is almost finished with three (3) more spans left and the construction of the basketball court and renovation of the roofing of the visitor’s area will commence once the perimeter wall is completed.
To improve jail security further, the warden initiated the installation of twenty (20) canopy-type lights in various strategic areas within the jail premises for adequate lighting during night time and the replacement of all defective padlocks with new ones to further secure all the cells.
Moreover, in order to maximize the efficiency of the jail’s workforce and overall operations, the warden was able to get the approval of the mayor of a budget amounting to P250,000.00 for the issuance of a city van to replace the old and dilapidated prisoners’ van. This was considered a major security concern because there were previous instances when the escort officers had no choice but to transport inmates to court hearings in a calesa because the old van cannot function. The newly refurbished van which was issued by the city government through the mayor is now being used for escorting inmates during hearings and other official functions. The city van is in addition to the prisoners’ van issued by BJMP National Office.
The warden never got tired of initiating one project after another. He was really determined to transform Laoag City Jail into one of the best city jails in the country. With the problem of security already addressed, his focus now is sustainable development projects particularly in the aspect of jail management and operations. He again coordinated with the city government, various government and non-government organizations, religious groups and capable private individuals in funding yet again another significant project, the construction of a new admission/diagnostic, medical/supply and search room including a new rest room. It is interesting to note that such facilities were originally housed in an old and decaying nipa hut. With the coordinated efforts of various groups, the project was realized and was inaugurated last May 22, 2010, the same day Sison celebrated his first birthday as warden of Laoag City Jail.
The city mayor was very pleased with how the city jail is improving, and in response to the constant pleadings of the warden, he included in the annual budget of the city a financial assistance amounting to P200,000.00 for gasoline, office supplies and other operating expenses and an additional P30,000.00-P35,000.00 for utilities expenditures of the jail which include water, electricity, telephone and internet.
It was also thru the initiative of the warden that the mayor approved the procurement of a new set of computer with printer, table and chair amounting to P50,000.00. Being the forward thinker as he is, the warden takes advantage of advance technology. Laoag City Jail now maintains an email address for faster and more efficient outgoing/incoming communications. In addition, it also maintains its official website which is http://bjmplaoag.blogspot.com and Facebook account which is http://facebook.com/bjmp.laoag. Laoag City Jail is perhaps the only jail in the region and one of the very few in the country that maintains its official website. This is one way of reaching out to the outside world because all the different activities, programs and various developments are posted on both accounts. These accounts are being updated regularly and aim to drumbeat continuous support for the development of the jail, and to create and maintain a positive image of the jail.
Believing firmly to the idea that the merits that the jail has garnered should be made known to the public, the warden enjoins and gladly accommodates broadcast and print media personalities for interviews and visits to the jail.
The warden also maintains a strong linkage with various non-government organizations particularly the Rotary Club of Laoag and the NGO Federation of Laoag City. The Rotarians were instrumental for the construction of a visitors’ waiting shed in front of the jail’s main gate while the NGO Federation of Laoag funded the renovation and tiling of the jail kitchen, the cementing of the pathway leading to the kitchen and the setting-up of ceiling in the supply room. All these projects are the result of the community and media relations build-up the warden continuously undertakes.
The city mayor continuously supports the warden in carrying out the mission of the jail in providing humane safekeeping and development of inmates. As a manifestation, he funded various projects to create a homey atmosphere and humane habitat for inmates. The façade of the main building was renovated and painted. The front portion was cemented and additional refurbishments like roofing and concrete chairs and tables were also installed. Painting of all the cells including the iron grills, various structures and offices was also undertaken. All defective electrical outlets and wirings were repaired and all cells including alleys were installed with daylight bulbs for better illumination. The old and decaying warden’s barracks which was made of nipa was also renovated and a multi-purpose garage was constructed beside the barracks. Further, the City Engineering Office regularly conducts siphoning of septic tanks in all cells and the City Health Office conducts fumigation within the jail premises to prevent the spread of dengue inside the jail.
Moreover, beautification, cleanliness and orderliness programs are undertaken continuously like regular cleaning, sanitary inspection, painting and landscaping within the jail premises to maintain a beautiful and a clean jail.
In addition, the cooking area where the meals of the personnel are cooked was demolished and a new cooperative store was constructed on the site. Inmates and personnel can now buy basic commodities like toiletries, snacks and other instant and canned goods for their additional consumption from the store. In exchange for their patronage, dividends are divided equally among the eight (8) cells.
Supports from various NGOs are also non-stop. Every inmate of the jail now has each own yellow T-shirt with BJMP Detainee/Laoag City Jail print on it. The shirts are donated by Data College of the Philippines and Northwestern University. These schools continuously endorse Criminology students to undergo on-the-job training at the jail. Moreover, twenty (20) new monobloc chairs were also acquired as requested by the warden from the NGO Federation of Laoag City. More than the financial and logistical supports, various non-government organizations regularly conduct medical and dental missions inside the jail. One lady inmate was a recipient of a free major operation for her Myoma sponsored by the San Lorenzo Medical Clinic of the Diocese of Laoag. On the other hand, some groups continuously help the inmates in their livelihood activities by providing income-generating projects. Various religious groups sponsor feeding programs among inmates during the conduct of their religious services inside the jail and on special occasions.
More recently, a new drainage was constructed at the back of the jail kitchen with cemented covers for better removal and disposal of wastewater. The perimeter wall above the admin and warden’s office was again elevated to level with the existing perimeter wall and additional landscaping and painting were made. To complete the project, three (3) canopy-type lights were installed to illuminate the area at night.
With all the support of various organizations especially from the city mayor, Sison managed to develop and transform the jail. He is also guided by his principle “Bilanguan man ay paraiso din sa patakarang maka-Diyos at maka-tao.” In line with this, the warden supports and promotes the implementation of Therapeutic Community Modality Program inside the jail. After its initial launching, the inmates conduct their regular TC every week in their own cells and recently held their General TCMP last April as part of the Holy Week celebration in the jail. Laoag City Jail also recently conducted its graduation ceremonies for the four (4) inmates who passed the Accreditation and Equivalency Exam of the Alternative Learning System. This is the first time that the jail held its graduation ceremonies for the reason that in a span of 3 years since ALS was introduced in the jail, it was only this time that there are actually passers in the exam and among those who passed the high school level, one inmate placed at No. 4 among more than 200 examinees in the city of Laoag.
Truly indeed, the inmates already made Laoag City Jail a home away from home, at least temporarily. With its unprecedented transformation and development and with the exemplary performance of the warden, Laoag City Jail won for the first time as the Best City Jail in Region 1 for 2010. Surely, with all these various innovations and developments under its present administration, the jail continuously gears toward genuine development and is moving vibrantly forward to a brighter future.