BuCor: 41 inmates to get free cataract consultation, surgery

Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Corrections

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-one inmates, or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), from the New Bilibid Prison received free cataract consultation and will be provided surgery, said the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday.

According to BuCor, the 41 inmates who have cataracts were already transported to Tzu Chi Eye Center in Sta. Mesa, Manila for their free screening and surgery.

“Napakahalaga at napaka laking tulong nito para sa ating mga PDLs dahil wala pong kakayahan ang bureau na gastusan ang kanilang operasyon dahil ang budget lang po para sa kanilang medical allowance ay P10 a day,” Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said in a statement.

(This is very important and a great help for our PDLs because the bureau does not have the capacity to finance their operation because the only budget for their medical allowance is P10 a day.)

Catapang also assured the PDLs that he already ordered the evaluation of their records so that every PDL would be informed of how much longer they have to serve their sentence in prison.

He also assured the PDLs that the BuCor is working overtime to release inmates who are qualified for release, especially seniors.

BuCor said that the free cataract consultations and surgeries were made possible with the help of Tzu Chi Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1966 in the east coast of Taiwan.

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JPV