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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has vowed to work with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to implement national standards contained in the bureau's new manual for detention facilities, officials said.

Andres Casal, the ICRC's water and habitat coordinator in the country, in a press release, said the BJMP manual was launched on 16 November at the National Summit for Persons Deprived of Liberty at Diamond Hotel.

The ICRC lauded the BJMP for producing the 68-page manual that sets out technical standards relating to the living conditions of detainees in the Philippines.

"Some of the main problems tackled with jails authorities are overcrowding and dilapidated structures," said Casal."By having national standards, the BJMP provides a framework that stipulates what a dignified detention facility should be – one that meets the needs of inmates in accordance with internationally recognized minimum standards."

"Moreover, because adequate funding will be required to meet the standards, the manual will enable the BJMP to present a more accurate picture of the jail situation and to argue more forcefully that further resources are needed," he added.

The manual results from a Call for Action initiative started by the ICRC in 2007 to prompt the government agencies concerned to address the consequences of overcrowding in Philippine jails and prisons.

"We will continue to stimulate cooperation and dialogue with all authorities involved on issues of concern," said Jean-Daniel Tauxe, head of the ICRC delegation in Manila. "While we continue to visit people in jails, we also take corrective measures where needed. We will continue this dual approach."

The ICRC conducts visits to people in places of detention all over the world to monitor the conditions in which they are being held.

By Hader Glang