• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A resolution is urging Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to consider purchasing generator sets for the Metro Bacolod District Jail – MD (BJMP Singcang) and Metro Bacolod District Jail Annex (BJMP Handumanan) facilities, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.
Authored by Councilor Psyche Marie Sy, the resolution said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is mandated to oversee the management, security and welfare of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and personnel within its facilities, ensuring a safe and humane environment, as prescribed by law.
The BJMP Handumanan and Singcang facilities are in urgent need of generator sets to ensure the continuous operation of essential systems, especially lighting, in case of power outages, it said.
The resolution said the absence of a stable power supply poses risks to the safety and security of the PDLs and the surrounding areas, particularly during periods of electrical failure.
Reliable and continuous power supply is crucial to maintaining the functionality of security systems, surveillance cameras, communication equipment, and emergency response services, which are vital for the protection of both PDLs and staff, it said.
The purchase of generator sets is in line with the BJMPs obligations under existing laws and regulations, to maintain proper security standards and to safeguard the welfare of persons under its care, as well as that of the general public, the resolution added.*