09/05/2026
READ | Remulla moves to overhaul congested jail system, improve PDL welfare
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday vowed to implement critical reforms in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) aimed at easing severe jail congestion and improving the living conditions of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Following reforms initiated in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Remulla said the government must now confront the long-standing problems hounding the country’s jail system.
Speaking on the current state of detention facilities, the DILG chief described overcrowding as one of BJMP’s most pressing challenges, saying it continues to hamper the bureau’s operational capacity and affect inmate welfare.
“Ang problema ng BJMP ay overcrowding. Kung pupunta ka sa kulungan ng Pasay, ang kuwartong mga 50 to 80 square meters, 200 ang preso,” Remulla said.
Based on the latest BJMP data, while the congestion rate decreased from a high of 327 percent in 2022, 351 out of 488 jail facilities nationwide remain overcrowded, or nearly 72 percent, resulting in an average congestion rate of 279 percent.
Remulla acknowledged that jail conditions and the plight of PDLs have long received limited national attention, often taking a backseat to other law enforcement concerns. He said the government can no longer afford to treat jail congestion as a secondary issue, stressing that humane conditions inside detention facilities are part of maintaining order, justice, and public safety.
“Hindi puwedeng pabayaan natin ito. Bahagi ng maayos na sistema ng hustisya ang maayos na kalagayan sa ating mga kulungan,” he said.
The DILG chief added that the agency continues to push for jail decongestion and facility improvement initiatives under its proposed budget, while strengthening coordination with other government agencies to sustain long-term reforms.
Remulla also acknowledged the assistance being extended by local government units (LGUs) to BJMP facilities, although he noted that the level of support varies depending on the resources available to each locality.
He said improving jail conditions will require a whole-of-government approach, including stronger collaboration between national agencies and local governments to ensure safer, more humane, and more functional detention facilities nationwide.
READ | Remulla moves to overhaul congested jail system, improve PDL welfare
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday vowed to implement critical reforms in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) aimed at easing severe jail congestion and improving the living conditions of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Following reforms initiated in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Remulla said the government must now confront the long-standing problems hounding the country’s jail system.
Speaking on the current state of detention facilities, the DILG chief described overcrowding as one of BJMP’s most pressing challenges, saying it continues to hamper the bureau’s operational capacity and affect inmate welfare.
“Ang problema ng BJMP ay overcrowding. Kung pupunta ka sa kulungan ng Pasay, ang kuwartong mga 50 to 80 square meters, 200 ang preso,” Remulla said.
Based on the latest BJMP data, while the congestion rate decreased from a high of 367 percent in 2022, 351 out of 488 jail facilities nationwide remain overcrowded, or nearly 72 percent, resulting in an average congestion rate of 279 percent.
Remulla acknowledged that jail conditions and the plight of PDLs have long received limited national attention, often taking a backseat to other law enforcement concerns. He said the government can no longer afford to treat jail congestion as a secondary issue, stressing that humane conditions inside detention facilities are part of maintaining order, justice, and public safety.
“Hindi puwedeng pabayaan natin ito. Bahagi ng maayos na sistema ng hustisya ang maayos na kalagayan sa ating mga kulungan,” he said.
The DILG chief added that the agency continues to push for jail decongestion and facility improvement initiatives under its proposed budget, while strengthening coordination with other government agencies to sustain long-term reforms.
Remulla also acknowledged the assistance being extended by local government units (LGUs) to BJMP facilities, although he noted that the level of support varies depending on the resources available to each locality.
He said improving jail conditions will require a whole-of-government approach, including stronger collaboration between national agencies and local governments to ensure safer, more humane, and more functional detention facilities nationwide.