The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday assured that integrating all provincial jails to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will not only improve facilities but will also professionalize prison management in the local level.

This, as DILG Secretary Eduardo Año expressed full support to the proposal of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon to integrate all provincial jails to the BJMP.

Año said integrating all provincials to BJMP is a key in professionalizing and standardizing the management of jails at the local level.

The DILG chief explained that some jails managed by local government units (LGU) usually employ untrained and ill-equipped personnel and lack adequate facilities –making them prone to jailbreaks.

Under Drilon’s proposed bill, there will be a national jail system under the Department of Justice-Bureau of Corrections and a local jail system under the DILG-BJMP.

“We fully support Senator Drilon’s proposal to bring all provincial jails into our fold at the BJMP because this will not only standardize policies and rules in managing jails but will also ensure that local jails are manned by highly-trained and competent jail personnel,” Año said.