Relatives of Lapu-Lapu jail inmates can soon visit them thru the Internet

INMATES of the Lapu-Lapu City Jail will soon enjoy virtual connection with their relatives who cannot visit them in jail personally.

The jail management will soon launch the “e-Dalaw” program which will allow relatives who live far or outside Cebu to communicate with them through the internet.

The program is an initiative of Lapu-Lapu City Jail warden Reynante Rubio.

“Here in the jail, we are always thinking of the rehabilitation of the inmates. Aside from the livelihood, moral recovery programs and entertainment and physical activities, we also initiated the e-Dalaw program to lessen their longing for family members who can’t come to the jail, especially that Christmas is fast approaching,” said Rubio.

Rubio said he came up with the idea after a consultation with the inmates. He proposed it to his superior and it was approved.

Initially, there will be three computer units to be used. Rubio hopes for kindhearted people to donate more computer units for the program.

A jail officer will man the e-Dalaw station and inmates are not allowed to open other sites except those approved by the jail management which include Facebook messenger, Skype and e-mail.

Each inmate will only have 15 minutes to accommodate others.

Rubio hopes that with the e-Dalaw in place, they can reduce the number of visitors going to the jail.

He explained that since the technology is available, they might as well use it for the inmates to communicate with their relatives.

He added that inmates who are not visited by relatives for a long time would often think of escaping from jail.

There are 1,138 male and 126 female inmates in the Lapu-Lapu City Jail, which is only good for 450 inmates.

Rubio said the jail is already very congested but he thanked Mayor Paz Radaza as she pledged for additional buildings to address the congestion in the jail.