TACLOBAN CITY — Designed to hold only 150 inmates, the male dormitory of the Tacloban City Jail is now housing 527 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), making it the most congested facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Eastern Visayas.

The alarming figure was presented by BJMP-8 Jail Provincial Administrator Jail Supt. Jim Buranday during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting presided over by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.

Data from BJMP-8 show that the Tacloban City Jail Male Dorm is operating at 230 percent over its intended capacity, underscoring the severity of jail congestion in the region.
To address the problem, the BJMP has allocated P150 million for the construction of a modern and expanded jail facility on a lot donated by the Tacloban City government in Barangay 101, New Kawayan. The new structure is designed to accommodate up to 2,000 inmates.

“If this facility is completed, this will decongest and address the current condition of Tacloban City Jail,” Buranday said.

While awaiting completion of the new building, the BJMP has implemented interim measures to ease congestion. Among these is the designation of paralegal officers tasked to closely coordinate with courts, follow up long-pending cases, and assist inmates’ families with documentation.

Buranday noted that court hearings are typically scheduled every one to three months, resulting in prolonged detention. Many PDLs spend three to five years in jail before their cases are decided.

Another major factor contributing to congestion is the steady influx of new detainees, particularly those facing illegal drug charges.

Of the 527 PDLs currently detained at the Tacloban City Jail Male Dorm, 348 are either facing or serving sentences for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Aside from Tacloban, several other BJMP-managed facilities in Leyte are also operating beyond capacity: Ormoc City Jail (Male Dorm) – 263 PDLs (capacity: 242); Carigara District Jail – 181 PDLs (capacity: 120); Burauen District Jail – 59 PDLs (capacity: 20); Palompon District Jail – 35 PDLs (capacity: 19); Tacloban City Jail Female Dorm – 39 PDLs (capacity: 38) and the Isabel District Jail – 8 PDLs (capacity: 6).

Meanwhile, some facilities are operating below capacity, including Ormoc City Jail Female Dorm – 15 PDLs (capacity: 36); Baybay City Jail – 39 PDLs (capacity: 109); Palo Municipal Jail – 12 PDLs (capacity: 60);and Alangalang Municipal Jail – 5 PDLs (capacity: 6).

BJMP officials said that while infrastructure expansion is a long-term solution, speeding up case resolution and strengthening coordination with the judiciary remain crucial steps in addressing chronic jail congestion across Leyte.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG) in Eastern Visayas convened its First Quarter ‘kumustahan’ on February 20, 2026, gathering provincial and city focal officers to review progress, address challenges, and align strategies for the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) program.

Held virtually via zoom, the meeting provided a platform for field implementers across the region to share updates on dispute resolution mechanisms at the barangay level, exchange best practices, and discuss operational challenges affecting program delivery. The LTIA program recognizes barangays that excel in promoting peace and resolving conflicts through the Lupong Tagapamayapa system.

Jhonel Añavesa, chief of DILG-8’s Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division and representing Regional Director Arnel Agabe, emphasized the importance of consistent program implementation, reorienting officers on updated evaluation criteria, and maintaining the region’s commitment to producing model barangays and national awardees.

“Continuous feedback from our field implementers is crucial. It ensures that national directives remain relevant and responsive to the realities in our communities,” he said.
During the session, provincial and city focal officers presented progress reports, highlighting gains in barangay-level dispute resolution while identifying areas where additional support and capacity-building are needed. Open discussions also encouraged practical solutions to common challenges, reinforcing the adaptability of local offices in sustaining community-based peace initiatives.

The Kumustahan underscores DILG-8’s proactive approach in promoting grassroots justice systems, equipping focal officers with the tools and coordination necessary to advance conflict resolution programs across Eastern Visayas.

Officials stressed that collaboration among local governments is key to strengthening peace, justice, and responsive governance in barangays throughout the region.

Through sustained coordination and capacity-building, DILG-8 aims to ensure that the 2026 LTIA cycle will not only recognize excellence but also further institutionalize community-based conflict resolution as a cornerstone of local governance.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)