Complaints about low-budget food in jail prompted an initial investigation as to how the allocation from the provincial government has been maximized.

Bohol District Jail Warden Jose Rusylvi Abueva vouched that the inmates got the kind of food that corresponds to the budget.

The allocation from the provincial government has been maximized to feed all the 491 inmates, he added.

However, Abueva assured to look into the allegations that the inmates had been fed with low-budget meals.

This is in response to a complaint from inmates that only half of the fish had been given to them in a meal, insinuating that the budget for their food had been misused.

On this, Abueva will let the “market” supervisor and food service supervisor of BDJ explain how the budget has been spent to clear things and be able to give answers to queries about the food of the inmates.

So far, it can be noted that the P50 daily allocation for each inmate for three meals is even more than enough, according to the jail warden.

As much as the management can do, jail authorities tried their best to give the inmates quality food as mandated, Abueva added.

He also explained that the jail management follows the dietary guidelines of the Department of Health, ensuring the inmates get nutritious meals.

The food service supervisor prepares the menu based on the recommendations of DOH and the “market” supervisor takes charge of purchasing the ingredients.

An inspector from the provincial government also constantly inspects the ingredients bought for the day’s menu.

The jail warden, however, said he had no idea how the complaints cropped up, but said he understands and would still act on them.

Sometimes, they could only give the inmates smaller fish, when there is low supply of fish in the market.

On the other hand, the jail warden explained that the complaints about the food must have been prompted by the stricter policies implemented.

He said some inmates have been padlocked in their cells for violating the jail policy.

Some of them might have been disappointed with the strict policy on the contrabands such cellphones inside the jail, according to the jail warden.