In Dumaguete and some detention facilities in Region 1 and Manila (like
CIW, Pasig and Makati), participants expressed general satisfaction with
the food that they are served. A participant from Dumaguete City Jail
for instance shared, “Lami ang among isda. Nahan gani ko, fresh jud na
(Our fish are delicious. I like it, it is really fresh)”; “First class NFA [National
Food Authority] among bugas humay, dili baho. Tagaan pud mi ug
commercial usahay (Our rice is first class NFA, it doesn’t smell. Sometimes
we get commercial rice).” However, this could not be said in other
places of detention. The FGDs reveal that in some detention places, the
requirements of the Mandela and Bangkok Rules are far from being met,
if not outrightly violated.
Without additional funding for food despite the influx of inmates, places
of detention are budget-constrained and WDL are forced to make do
with the little food they receive. Some accounts of dissatisfaction and
complaints related to food pertain to low nutritional quality and the
absence of food variety:
“Dalawang okra lang at bagoong. Kung minsan bulad, kapirasong pipino.
Minsan sa isang buwan nakakatikim kami ng manok (Only two pieces of
okra and fermented shrimp [is served]. Sometimes we get dried fish, a
small piece of cucumber. Once a month, we are able to taste chicken),” said
a senior woman from the Sultan Kudarat District Jail-Female Dormitory.
Another woman from the Sorsogon BJMP District Jail attested, “Kulang po
ang rasyon ng pagkain dito sa loob ng jail, ayon po sa budget (We lack food
here in jail, that’s according to the given budget).” In a number of facilities,
women deprived of liberty describe the ration of food they receive to
include the same amount of rice per meal, a two-inch piece of hotdog or
one piece of dried fish with two tiny slices of vegetable.
In some facilities, participants experienced upset stomach from food, a
particularly difficult ailment for the elderly and persons with disability
(PWDs) who find it difficult accessing comfort rooms. Some participants
complained of spoiled food. A participant from the Davao Prison and
Penal Farm shared, “’Yung kanin minsan may uod tapos ’yung ulam na
isda malansa pa. Napaabot na namin ito sa management pero minsan
nangyayari pa rin (The rice has worms and the fish they serve smell bad.
We have already relayed this to the management but sometimes it still
happens).” Another participant from the same facility lamented, “Panis ang
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