The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has partnered with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to develop a land use plan for future regional prison facilities.
Talks were held Friday at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and NCIP Chairperson Dr. Marie Grace Pascua agreed to form a technical working group to identify feasible land development strategies that meet both institutions’ objectives.
Pascua praised BuCor’s focus on rehabilitation and assured NCIP’s willingness to set aside jurisdictional conflicts in favor of dialogue and cooperation. The collaboration aims to respect Indigenous rights while supporting the penal system’s land requirements.
NCIP also proposed that BuCor include a mineral zone within the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan. This would allow local processing of raw materials, fostering economic growth before export.
Meanwhile, BuCor transferred 300 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from NBP to Iwahig as part of its ongoing efforts to decongest the facility.
Since 2022, more than 11,200 PDLs have been relocated, in preparation for the eventual closure of NBP by 2028.
