The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) XI yesterday announced that visitors would not be allowed inside the facility, amid the threat of Covid-19.
“Legal practitioners, health workers, law enforcement agents and entities who are indispensable in the very welfare of all Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) are still allowed to enter the jail premises provided they follow hygiene protocols,” the BJMP XI statement said in its Facebook page.
Jail Insp. Edo Lobenia, the spokesperson of the BJMP XI, said there are over 2,000 inmates in the Davao City Jail in Barangay Ma-a, Talomo District.
“We are coordinating with the City Health Office in Davao to come up with proactive measures,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jail Warden Presco Manisan said they receive an average of 200 visits a day from families and relatives in the correctional facility. He also said that the women’s facility has over 300 population.
Yesterday, the BJMP national headquarters said all jail visits in Metro Manila, Ilocos, and Davao are suspended.
In the GMA News Online news, BJMP spokesperson Xavier Solda said, “I can confirm that the 42 jails of the National Capital Region has already been suspended starting 12 noon today (Wednesday).”
In a social media post online, the BJMP XI posted a temporary suspension of all kinds of visiting activities due to the Covid-19.
On Tuesday, the Bureau of Corrections announced that prison visits are suspended for a week due to the coronavirus scare.
Based on the record of the Department of Health, there are already 33 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country.
DTI monitors prices
amid Covid-19 scare
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is intensifying its monitoring activities to make sure that nobody will take advantage of the Covid-19 threat to jack up their prices.
The monitoring will initially last for 60 days.
Deolly Roque, the division chief of the DTI’s Consumer Protection Division, told reporters yesterday during the AFP-PNP press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that they have sets of monitoring teams who are going around the region.
They are checking retail stores, business establishments, convenience stores, and shopping malls to determine any artificial price increases.
They have teams from Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao Del Norte.
“That is our regular intervention, not just during the declaration of a state of public health emergency. However, for this time we are intensifying our monitoring,” she said.
“But, so far, for now, there are no price increases,” she added.
Any erring establishments will face a sanction if they exceed the suggested retail price (SRP) for the basic commodities.
The basic necessities and prime commodities under the supervision of DTI include canned fish (like sardines), processed and fresh milk, canned pork, condiments, salt, soy sauce, cup noodles, flour, sugar, and coffee.
If ever there are violations, the penalties will vary, depending on the gravity of the violation. The fine, for instance, would range from P500 up to P300,000.
“We will issue notices of violation,” she added.
Also, the government official said they have not monitored any shortage in supply of the prime commodities. “Because the tendency of the people now if they are panicked is to stock on basic necessities,” she added.
