July 15, 2024 - In a ceremony held today at The Manila Hotel, a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) was signed to promote and protect the health of people in jails, prisons, and other detention facilities across the Philippines.
The JAO, signed by officials from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), aims to achieve several key goals:
- Reduce disease burden within detention facilities
- Promote the health and well-being of both detainees (including Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and Persons Under PNP Custody (PUPCs)) and detention personnel
- Ensure health-promoting and health-protecting environments within these facilities
- Provide detainees with timely access to quality healthcare services
This initiative aligns with Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Act, which guarantees automatic enrollment in the National Health Insurance Program (PhilHealth) for all Filipino citizens, including PDLs. This grants them immediate eligibility for PhilHealth benefit packages, such as the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or Konsulta Package.
Signatories to the JAO include:
- PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr.
- BJMP Director Ruel S. Rivera
- Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa
- DILG Undersecretary Serafin P. Barretto, Jr.
- DOJ Undersecretary Deo L. Marco
- BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr.