The Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail. (File photo by Jigger Jerusalem)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The private sector here is supporting Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail (MOPJ) who are either abandoned or neglected by their relatives, an official bared Monday.
In a radio interview, MOPJ chief warden Robert Roy Bahian said some PDLs have no friends or relatives who visit them since their incarceration at the facility, which is why some of them depended only on the food rations of the facility.
"Our food (rations) are budgeted, it's limited. So whatever budget is available for food, that will be their meal (for the entire duration of the ration)," he said.
There are about 640 PDLs at the MOPJ.
With the budgetary limitations, Bahian said some civic organizations and cooperatives are providing additional food supplies to the PDLs.
On Monday, a total of 15 sacks of rice were donated by the Kusgan Volunteers Inc. and Climbs Cares, the latter being the community arm of Climbs Life and General Insurance Cooperative.
Engr. Charles Magarin, Climbs Cares head, said they handed out food supplies after learning that some PDLs were neglected by their families.
"We will include this in our next planning (of activities) in providing them the help they need," he said.
Lanterns for sale
Meanwhile, Bahian urged the public to support PDLs by buying the Christmas lanterns they made because the proceeds will go directly to them.
He said the lanterns start at PHP50 depending on the design.
For years, it has become an annual tradition of PDLs at MOPJ to create lanterns as an alternative to earning money.
Between 2012 and 2018, the provincial government commissioned the works of the PDLs to light up the Vicente de Lara Park during the holiday season within the Misamis Oriental Capitol compound. (PNA)
