CHAPTER l

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is a presentation of the whole picture of the study. It includes the

background of the study with which the researchers were urged to conduct this

scholarly investigation; the statement of the problem, the significance of the scope and

delimitation of the study.

Background of the Study

The Philippine government has its correctional system primarily administered by

the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), the Bureau of Jails

Management and Penology (BJMP) of the Department of Interior and Local

Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Their duty consists of rehabilitation, and organized care and treatment programs aimed

at the promotion of the dignity of the confined persons. (predafoundation.org,2016)

(Alvor)

Due to this foregoing duty of the state being represented by the different

government agencies, the Philippine established its own national standards consistent

with the universal standards articulated in the Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or

degrading treatment or punishment. Other international laws were also being adhered

by the Philippine government such as the UN Standards Minimum Rules for the

Administration of Juvenile Rules (the Beijing Rules), UN Guidelines for the Prevention of

Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Rules), UN Standards Minimum Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners and UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial MeasureS

(Tokyo Rules) and are being highlighted in the Article ll of the 1987 Philippine

Constitution that the State values human dignity and guarantees full respect for human

rights. This declaration specifically applies as to how prisoners and detainees are being

treated by the correctional agencies. On the light of this foregoing reality, prisoners and

detainees, though being locked up in a cell, are still being endowed by the basic human

rights. They are being provided with food, sleeping accommodations, education

services, spiritual development, livelihood opportunity, enhancement and other welfare

services inclusive of health and medical provisions.

However, despite those articulated international standards, the Philippine

correction system remains a target for numerous studies for its deficiencies and

inhumane treatment for offenders which are being aggravated by poor facilities,

resulting to congestion, government insufficient funds and the likes

(Labayo,2008;Derbysshire,2014;Langco et al, 2014;Abliter et al, 2015;)

This reality can never be denied in the new Bilibid Prisons which has a capacity

of 3,500 prisoners but houses more than 8,000 prisoners. Sleeping accommodations is

a far cry from that provided for by law. Even minimum comfort on the part of the

prisoners is not provided. The authorities do not supply mattresses or pillows. The cells

are uncomfortably cold and damp. Sleeping accommodations are so meagre that

prisoners are constrained to sleep in corridors. It would not be surprising then to know

that prisoners would rather get sick and enjoy the comfort of hospital beds than be
healthier and stay in their cells. Bathing and shower installations for the prisoners

leave much to be desired. Toilets do not work properly. They are very dirty and not fit for

Human use. Also, there are not enough toilet facilities. Many times prisoners have to
forego their morning rituals, water is also scarce and prisoner usually go for days
without taking a bath or doing their laundry (Abelardo,1977)

Condition of corrections facilities in the local level, particularly in Tigaon District

Jail which houses a total 94 inmates and being managed by 16 personnel is no different
from that of the condition stated above. However, efforts have been made by the
authorities in addressing those concerning through various livelihood, health, education
and religious programs as per directed by the government agencies mentioned at the
early part of this section.

Therefore, the researchers posed this study to determine the functionality of the
programs being implemented in Tigaon District Jail, the problems being encountered by
the authorities and the measures they adopt to address those problems.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed at determining the programs being implemented in Tigaon

District Jail. Specifically, it sought the answers on the following questions;
 1. What are the programs being implemented by the Tigaon District Jail for its
inmates?
2. How functional are the programs in a) living conditions, b) health and sanitation
and c) religious and non-formal education being implemented at Tigaon District
Jail?
3. What are the problems encountered by the authorities of Tigaon District Jail in
implementing the programs?
4. What are measures being adopted by the authority to solve the problems?

Significance of the Study

This study attempts to illustrate the current situation of the reformation and
rehabilitation programs of Tigaon District Jail. Hence, this study could benefit the
following;

Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Interior and Local Government

(DILG), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP, Bureau of Corrections
(BuCor), the findings of this study could give a well-versed and first-hand report to these
agencies, thus it will be a basis for implementing new programs, and reorganizing or
enhancing existing programs.

Department of Education (DepED), this government agency which takes over to

the educational welfare of the Filipinos will also be benefited on this study because they
can further intensify the programs such as Alternative Learning System which is being
offered to the inmates of Tigaon District Jail.
 Department of Health (DOH), the authorities on this agency may be benefited in
implementing hygiene standards specifically designed for the correction system in the
Philippines.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), this government agency may

create job inside the correctional facilities thus enabling the inmates nor eproductive
even locked up in a cell.

Administrators of Tigaon District Jail, results of the study will serve as a reflection
on their efforts and programs implemented in the correction system.

Inmates, since this study is basically intended for them, it is of great importance
for them programs may arise based on the recommendations of the researchers.

Future Researchers, this study may serve as reference to the future researchers
delving into the same topic.

Scope and Delimitations

The study focused on the programs being implemented at Tigaon District Jail
which houses 94 inmates and being administered by 16 personnel. The researchers
conducted survey on October 2016 through partly adopted questionnaire from Donnelly
(2012) which was administered to the sample size having a figure of 36 inmates and a
researcher made questionnaire which was administered to the 16 personnel of Tigaon
District Jail upon its validation.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter provides related literature and studies which delve into the
researches in rehabilitation and reformation programs in correctional institution. Also
included in this chapter are the theoretical and conceptual framework of the research
study and definition of terms use in the study.

Related Literature and Studies

The establishment of prisons in the Philippines formally started during the

Spanish regime when Spanish penal laws contained in royal decrees; ordinances, rules
and regulations were extended to the country. The main insular penitentiary was the old
Bilibid Pion in Manila that was conducted in 1847 and formally opened by a Royal
Decree in 1865. The San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City named
after the the patron saint of its founder Ramon Blanco was established in 1870 primarily
to confine political prisoners. This prison was closed during the Spanish American
War. Under the American regime, more insular prisons and penal colonies were
established. The Iwahig penal colony in Palawan was created on November 16, 1904.
The San Ramon prison, which was closed in 1898, was reopened. The reorganization
Act of 1905 created the Bureau of prisons under the Department of Commerce and
Police, and then transferred to the Department of Public Instructions and finally placed
under the Department of Justice.

The 3 prisons and penal colonies, namely: (a) Old Bilibid, (b) San Ramon and (c)
Iwahig were placed under the Bureau of Prisons jurisdiction including the Corregidor

Stockade and the Bontoc Prisons which were later phased out. Due to increasing
population and criminality, more prisons and penal colonies under the bureau of Prison
were created. The Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong was established
in 1931 by authority of act No. 3579. The Davao Penal colony was established on 21
January 1932 in accordance with Act No. 3732 and Proclamation 414 series of 1931.
The old Bilibid prison was transferred to the present site in Muntinlupa City and
renamed the New Bilibid Prison. Under the Philippines Republic, after World War ll, 2
more prisons were created to decongest the over-crowding condition of the New Bilibid
Prison. The Sablayan Penal Colony in Mindanao Occidental and Leyte Regional Prison
were established on 27 September 1954 and 16 January 1973 respectively. Jails are
institution for the confinement of persons who are awaiting final disposition of their
criminal cases and also for the service of those convicted and punished with shorter
sentences, usually up to threeyears. As can be perceive in this definition, a jai is a
confinement facility, usually administered by a local law enforcement agency, inteneded
for adults but sometimes also containing juveniles.

Literatures in other variables posed in this study are lacking. The researchers
were only able to discuss related literature in religious programs in correctional facility.
In some prisons, corruption and abuses is still rampant, and the problems of lynch
violence, insufficient medical care, and the continued failure of rehabilitation practices
all remain as serious issues. The general publics understanding of the function of
prisons remains conservative. Prisons officials, who ought to be grounded in specialized
and concrete basic policies, remain the same, they are emphasize only on isolation,
punishment, heavy sentencing, and so forth. Apart from lip service, they have no

Fundamental concept of prison reform, nor do they have any practical,

sincere measures (Cole, 1982).

If religion can inhibit delinquent and criminal activity, why might it not
facilitate the process as well as the outcomes of prison rehabilitation? Aside
from complex and difficult theological discussion about the possible
spiritual roles of religion, as well as the evidence demonstrating the mental
and physical health benefits of religion (Bergin 1983, Gather et al. 1991;
Larson, Sherrill, and Lyons 1994; Levin and Vanderpool 1987, there are
scientific reasons to predict that religion might affect behavioural and social
change. Religion targets antisocial values, emphasizes accountability and
responsibility, changes cognitive approaches to conflict, and provides social
support and social skills through interaction with religious people and
communities (Bergin 1983, Levin and Vanderpool 1987; Martin and Carlson
1988). Such emphases seem to be consistent with what many rehabilitation
workers would call principles of effective treatment.
 Langco, et al (2014), conducted investigations in the perceived
availability of inmates social services in Lanao del Sur Provincial Jail and
their study revealed that when it comes to the available medical services
among inmates in Provincial Jail, the said services was often available to
them. The respondents assumed that conducting a physical examination
and enforcement of health policies were two of the main activities usually
rendered in relation to the medical services provided by the jail
management. Moreover, the results on the available spiritual services
among inmates in the Provincial Jail that mass Prayer, religious volunteer,
and freedom and opportunity in pursuing religious beliefs were always
available to them. On the other hand, availability of religious books and
related reading materials, guidance and counselling, and convenient place
of worship were usually available.

Abliter, et al. (2015), also measured the effectiveness of the

therapeutic community modality program of Batangas City Jail and found
out that work and educational therapy services, livelihood skill training,
counselling and religious services, and medical services are all effective.

Theoretical Framework
Figure 1. Theoretical Framework

Schneider et al (2012) theorized that by teaching the offenders job

skills and coping abilities, they are being prepared to be able to function
normally rather than just returning them to the streets.