Detainees at the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City recently submitted a petition calling for an increase in their budget allocated for food and medicine for the upcoming year. Over 700 detainees signed the petition addressed to seven congressmen representing districts in Negros.

The detainees are asking for an increase in their daily food budget from ₱70 to ₱100 per person. Additionally, they are seeking to raise the daily medicine budget from ₱14 to ₱30.

The petition urges Congress and the Senate to respond to the request for additional funding amid discussions on the national budget for the upcoming year.

The petition emphasizes, “Please do not forget us and our families as you enact the General Appropriations Act of 2025.” The last increase in their food and medicine budget occurred in 2018.

“Our very meager food and medicine budget brings additional suffering to our detainees and our families,” they said. Due to shortage, many families are forced to send extra food and supplies to the detainees.

At least 4,000 inmates are in Negros Occidental, composing a total of 180,000 nationwide, including over 800 political detainees. They are under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.