Fee for issuance of Detention Certificate pushed

BAGUIO CITY – Councilor Philian-Weygan Allan has proposed an ordinance imposing the collection of a fee for the issuance of a certificate of detention by the Jail and Management and Penology (BJMP).

Under the proposed ordinance, the City Treasury Office shall collect P100.00 for every certificate that is issued by the BJMP. The corresponding official receipt shall be presented to the BJMP prior to the issuance of the certificate of detention to the requesting party.

However, government offices requesting the said certificate shall not be charged. The waiver of the collection fee shall be certified by the jail warden.

According to the proposed ordinance, the total funds collected from the issuance of the detention certificate shall be reported out at the end of every year and will form part of the funds disbursed by the City. The BJMP shall also report out how many certifications were issued as well as how many were paid and how many fees were waived.

The BJMP is mandated to supervise and control the administration and operation of all district, city, and municipal jails nationwide with pronged tasks of safekeeping and development of persons deprived of liberty (PDL).

Section 447.5.xv p of The Local Government Code of 1991 (RA No. 7160) provides that one support the LGU shall “establish and provide for the maintenance and improvement of jails and detention center, institute jail management programs, and appropriate funds for detainees and convicted prisoners in the city.”

Furthermore, Section 153 of RA No. 7160 states that the LGUs may impose and collect such reasonable fees and charges for services rendered.

The proposed ordinance stated that the certificate of detention is usually requested by families of PDL, their lawyers, and their bondsmen.

The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading and referred to the Sanggunian’s Committee on Appropriations and Finance for review. –Jordan G. Habbiling

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