By Hilda Austria / Philippine News Agency
Some 1,537 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the different facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the Ilocos Region have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Oct. 28.
In a phone interview on Sunday (Oct. 31), BJMP-Ilocos Regional Assistant Director Superintendent Jun Melchor Boadilla said the vaccination rollout in their facilities is an initiative of the central office to prevent infection among inmates and personnel.
He said 129 PDLs in Ilocos Norte are fully inoculated, three in Ilocos Sur, 290 in La Union, and 1,115 in Pangasinan, while 2,424 PDLs in the region have received their first dose.
“We are waiting for the local government units to schedule the second dose of the PDLs who have already been vaccinated with the first dose,” he added.
From the start of the pandemic to Oct. 30, Boadilla said there were 85 confirmed COVID-19 cases among the PDLs in the BJMP facilities in Ilocos Region.
However, all have already recovered except for two inmates in La Union who have been reinfected.
Meanwhile, 707 out of the 956 total personnel of BJMP have been fully immunized against COVID-19.
Boadilla said they are preparing for possible face-to-face non-contact visitation, which may be implemented in line with the upcoming Christmas season.
“If this will push through, only immediate family members, lawyers, and doctors will be allowed to visit and there will be prior scheduling to prevent congestion in the facility. We will also be putting up clear barriers since it will be non-contact,” he added. (PNA) – jlo
