An increase of P25 of their daily meal allowance as proposed by Senator Loren Legarda was greeted with relish by the 748 inmates of the Bohol District Jail (BDJ) even as their meal allowance exceeded by P50 the national meal allocation for inmates.

BDJ Warden Jail Chief Inspector Jose Rusylvi Abueva told DYRD Balita that the move of Legarda was a welcome relief to the inmates whose meal allocation of P50 was implemented in 2004.

But inmates at the BDJ are better off in terms of their daily meal allowance since the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGB) has augmented by P50 per inmate their meal allowance compared to their 275 counterparts at the Tagbilaran City Jail who are fed three meals a day costing P50.

“How does a person eat three meals a day with P50? That’s too small. Let’s have a more humane rate,” Legarda was quoted when she expressed surprise over the “meager funding” of inmates.

If the budget increase for the daily meal allowance will be approved, inmates of the BDJ will get P125 per day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Inmates are detained at the Tagbilaran City Jail and the Bohol District Jail which is under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) while awaiting resolution of their cases.

If convicted, the inmates will be sent to the seven prisons under the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR). (Chito M. Visarra and Rey Tutas)