NO TIMELINE FOR CORRECTION GIVEN 

THE Dagupan City Health Office (CHO) has issued a Sanitary Order to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Male and Female Dormitories, identifying several sanitary defects and violations in the management of their wastewater discharged into a nearby drainage canal that leads to the sea, prompting increasing complaints from residents of Paras Street in Barangay Bonuan Gueset.

The order, signed by Medical Officer III Dr. Samuel Adam Manaoat and noted by City Health Officer Julita de Venecia, followed an investigation conducted by Sanitation Inspector V. Arminda Claveria and Sanitary Inspector I Abenelsa Tandoc on January 9, 2026, acting on a letter from City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo on behalf of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

Addressed to Jail Chief Inspector Lito S. Lam-osen, the Sanitary Order cited the BJMP Male Dormitory for violations of Presidential Decree 856 and City Ordinance 1927 s. 2009. It highlighted that the sewage from the BJMP emits a foul odor, creating a nuisance for the community and posing potential environmental risks. Additionally, it noted the absence of a clear drainage pathway for the facility’s wastewater.

The inspectors emphasized that improper disposal of human waste and sewage by BJMP constitutes a health risk and called for government support and intervention from relevant agencies to ensure a safe and healthy community.

While acknowledging that the prisoner bathrooms are hygienic and functional, the inspectors noted that many lack sinks, compromising personal hygiene.

The CHO recommended renovating or constructing a larger septic tank with weekly siphoning, as the current system is undersized for the human wastes of 667 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and 82 BJMP personnel.

Among the issues raised, the CHO noted that the BJMP has yet to secure an environmental sanitation clearance and a valid sanitary permit. BJMP officials were advised to seek technical assistance from the City Engineering Office to improve the design and capacity of their septic system to ensure compliance with environmental and public health standards.

The CHO also reported the presence of stagnant water at the rear of the BJMP compound, a condition that could encourage the breeding of disease-carrying vectors and aggravate sanitation concerns.

In a joint letter addressed to City Secretary Ravanzo, Jail Superintendent Lito Lam-osen and Chief Inspector Noemi Sabalboro, wardens of the male and female dormitories, respectively, maintained that the jail’s drainage system is connected to two drainage canals along Paras Street, allowing the discharge of wastewater from bathing and laundry activities of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Both BJMP officials anticipate a 50% reduction in inmate population when a new district jail currently under construction in San Fabian becomes operational.

They suggested that relocating the Dagupan City Male and Female Dormitories further from the shoreline could offer a sustainable solution to the ongoing drainage issues.

Sanitary inspectors provided no specific timeline for correcting the defects and violations at the BJMP facilities. (Leonardo Micua)