Holistic Health Approach, COVID-19, Pandemic, Infection Control, Health Prevention, Health Promotion, Cumulative risk 

During emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, the public safety agencies were challenged in the frontline to protect the general public. This was usually expressed as a governmental responsibility and mandates. Public safety, on this regard is within the bounds of common good because it presumed the general welfare of the public. Each member of the community contributes to its welfare and development, referring to what is attainable only by the community yet individually shared to its members.

In the case of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), it was essential for the Jail Bureau to protect those incarcerated and deprived of liberty. The global pandemic was likened to a war wherein many people suffered and fallen into misery, loss of love ones, and separation from families. Considerably, most jails under the BJMP were not prepared for the pandemic, then it was certainly challenging for the entire organization to introduce innovations and practices in order to address the problems brought about by the pandemic. Like war, strategizing was vital to win the battle. The proponents, on the other hands, understood clearly these problems and the importance of medical interventions in addressing the cumulative risk of infectious disease in CALABARZON jails. The goal is not only limited to describing security measures of the jail facilities through the development of policy standards, but to show also of the Bureau’s commitment towards holistic health approach to the PDL during the emergence of infectious disease.

The study utilized the descriptive method of research employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches through a mixed method. It described the cumulative risks of COVID-19 virus confronting both PDL and personnel in CALABARZON jails. It is also a mixed method with Triangulation approached in order to give more details of the findings from different perspective.

The researcher conclude that the cumulative risks of COVID-19 resulted in the non-compliance to the Safety Seal requirement of then DOH. Also, there is a need to further educate PDL and personnel especially on the aspect of health service during the outbreak of the pandemic. There are insufficient health service and treatment available to PLD and personnel during the outbreak of the pandemic because of scarcity in the resources. And based on the result of the study, a proposed Holistic Health Approach in the jail setting will provide better health treatment of PDL and personnel.

Therefore, the implementation of DOH Safety Seal requirement and BJMP Policy (Holistic Health Approach) should have strong support and advocacy from the Top Management down to the lowest level of jail units. Institutionalized information dissemination and health teaching to all personnel, PDL, and visitors. Creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) for the coordination and development of policy procedures (Holistic Health Approach) or guidelines, in partnership with external and stakeholders in the country; and, the Chief, BJMP, and together with the command group, directors of directorates, and chiefs of offices, should be supportive and committed to the implementation of BJMP Holistic Health Approaches which may be implemented nationwide.