MANILA – Prison officials on Monday said they will ask the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to incorporate the Bureau of Correction’s (BuCor) assets in Mindoro into the Luzon Economic Corridor, alongside those in Palawan.
Speaking during the BuCor’s 119th founding anniversary celebration, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa will be subsequently moved to Palawan to pave the way for the development of the NBP’s prime landholdings south of Manila.
“For your advanced information, itong (this) New Bilibid Prison, we will close down the maximum, minimum, medium (security compounds) … New Bilibid Prison Muntinlupa will be transferred to New Bilibid Prison Palawan,” he said.
Catapang said only the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) where newly transferred inmates are processed before joining the general inmate population will remain.
“Mag-iiwan lang tayo dito ng RDC, and then of course pati ‘yung CIW (Correctional Institution for Women) ililipat na rin natin ‘yan sa Palawan, CIW Palawan. Magsisimula na tayo maglipat (We will just leave the RDC here, and the CIW will also be transferred to Palawan. We will start the transfer)” he added.
Food production
Catapang said the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Occidental Mindoro, covering 9, 000 hectares, can play a role in ensuring the country’s food security.
Similarly, the 27, 000-hectare Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa is also being developed with the assistance of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), aligning with the Luzon Economic Corridor plan.
Presently, BuCor is collaborating with the Department of Agriculture in the conduct of agricultural activities at SPPF while agri-aqua projects are being implemented at IPPF. The PEZA is at the early stage of transforming it to become an eco-industrial township.
By 2026, Catapang said the BuCor plans to procure a seagoing vessel to transport food produced in the prison farms outside Manila, as well as persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Catapang said the initiative aims not only to create employment opportunities for PDLs but also to contribute to enhancing food security and fostering new urban development.
“This endeavor is in line with the goals of the Marcos administration to elevate the Philippines to an upper middle-income economy, showcasing a commitment to progress and inclusive growth,” he said.
“The integration of BuCor’s assets in Mindoro into the Luzon Economic Corridor signifies a proactive step towards harnessing the potential of these facilities for economic development and societal benefit.” (PNA)