In a bid to decongest the country’s jails, a House of Representatives committee is batting for the approval of a measure that would authorize courts to replace prison terms with community service.

Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, chairman of the House committee on revision of laws, said House Bill 6944 was unanimously approved by the legislative panel and endorsed for approval in the plenary.

Aggabao and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara co-authored House Bill 6944 which seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code by authorizing a judge to direct a person guilty of light felonies to render community service instead of sending the offender to jail.

Under the bill, the community service provision will only cover crimes carrying a jail sentence of arresto menor or one day to 30 days and arresto mayor or one month to six months imprisonment.

Aggabao of Isabela said offenders undertaking community service will be under the surveillance of the barangay captain of the place where the crime was committed. A probation officer shall also monitor the activity being rendered by the guilty person.

He said the measure seeks to decongest local jails and give first time offenders a chance to reform without being made to suffer prison sentences.

Aggabao explained that the offender will be re-arrested and made to suffer the jail term if a condition of the community service sentence is violated.

He added that the community service privilege will be availed only once by a guilty offender.

Offenses penalized with arresto menor are light felonies such as slight physical injuries and unjust vexation.

Felonies such as less serious injuries and theft carry a penalty of arrest o mayor.