The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology  has disclosed that the congestion rate in jails it manages  decreased to 348 percent in 2023 compared to the 367 percent in 2022.

Months covered spanned January to October of the past two years.

The Presidential Communications Office  said the decrease was attributed to the continuous implementation of paralegal programs.

The PCO said these include the Good Conduct Time Allowance, Time Allowance for Study, Teaching, and Mentoring, and Special Time Allowance for Loyalty.

“Some 77,467 PDLs were granted time allowance, while 18,865 had qualified for TASTM,” the PCO said.

The GCTA deducts 20 to 30 days per month from the possible maximum imprisonment based on the length of incarceration.

On the other hand, TASTM deducts five days to qualified persons deprived of liberty engaging in 60 hours of study, teaching and mentoring services monthly, it added.

Likewise, STAL cuts one-fifth or two-fifths of the imprisonment period of PDLs who did not escape even if they had the opportunity during calamities.

Concerned government agencies on 6 December, attended the National Jail Decongestion Summit to draft a comprehensive analysis on the penal system and address the prison congestion problem.

The BJMP also reported improvement in its anti-illegal drug efforts with over 70 percent of jails certified as “drug-free and drug-cleared” by the regional oversight committees.

Inmates are also given access to education for livelihood and vocational skills as well as for elementary, high school, and tertiary level diplomas.