Gov. Roel Degamo has asked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to take over the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
Degamo said he was asked by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo to officially make the request in writing, which he already did. Aside from this particular request, Robredo also asked Degamo to submit a listing of farm-to-market road projects for funding by the national government.
The provincial government is expected to save more than P6 million annually if the DILG absorbs the NODRC.
A total of P6,003,324 is allotted for salaries and wages of more than 50 jail guards, including “job order” and contractual workers, detailed with the provincial jail, said Detention & Rehab warden Nick Noble, while P3.7 million is allotted for meals of detainees.
On the other hand, Noble said the provincial government has been having difficulty transporting prisoners to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa, due to policies of some common carriers.
Provincial jail warden Noble said there are instances when inter-island vessels refused to carry convicted prisoners for security reasons, while commercial flights ban jail guards from carrying guns and ammunition.
Another option, which is transporting the inmates via another shipping line in Bacolod, is also risky as untoward incidents could happen along the way, he added. (PNA)DCT/jfp/Juancho Gallarde