Ailing inmates of the Dagupan City Jail will soon get medical attention without leaving the facility at Bonuan Gueset.

Thanks to non-government organizations, who raised funds to start the construction of an infirmary, and to Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, who will provide funds to finance the uncompleted part of the project, which consists of about 40 percent.

Senior Insp. Roque Constantino Sison III, jail warden, said that the infirmary, once completed, will be the first in any jail facility in the Ilocos Region, if not in the country.

“We will soon be able to immediately isolate sick inmates, especially those with communicable diseases, to avoid the spread of the disease to other inmates,” Sison said.

He added that inmates with chronic illnesses may also be temporarily confined in the infirmary while waiting for a court to issue an order for their eventual confinement in a hospital.

Sison said that the idea of putting up an infirmary came from the Apostles of Divine Mercy, whose spiritual leader, Sylvana de Vera, initiated a fund campaign that eventually financed the first phase of the construction of the project.

Soon after, other NGOs like the St. Therese Parish, the Korean Missionaries, the Seventh Day Adventist and concerned private individuals gave their share. The Pangasinan Medical Society had pledged to donate medical equipment and regular medical services for the operation of the infirmary.

“These donations made up 60 percent of the project,” Sison said.

In a recent visit, Sison said, Vice Mayor Fernandez, seeing the uncompleted project, promised to appropriate fund from his office for the steel trusses of the infirmary’s roof and other remaining requirements of the construction.

“We are really very thankful to the vice mayor for always helping us here,” Sison said. “Had it not been for him, the city jail would not have acquired the facilities that the inmates are enjoying,” he added.

From 2001 to 2005 the city jail has been conferred major regional and national awards as Best City Jail and Best City Jail Warden to Sison. Recently, SJO1 Jayson Aquino was named Best Paralegal Officer.