New Bilibid Prison (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said it could provide a portion of land at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) for the use of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The deal was made during the coordination meeting between BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. with PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan at the NBP Headquarters in Muntinlupa on Monday.
“They tackled providing the PCG with a 20-hectare lot within the NBP for future infrastructure development projects to support its growth and modernization,” the PCG said in a statement on Tuesday.
However, the BuCor on Wednesday reached out to clarify that the PCG asked for 20 hectares of land, but the agency could only offer three hectares.
“It is the PCG who asked the BuCor if they can be accommodated at the NBP,” said Weng Ocfemia, BuCor’s media consultant, in a Viber message to INQUIRER.net.
Previously, the BuCor also announced its plan to convert 100 ha of the 360-ha of NBP reservation into a nature park.
Central to this P205-billion, five-year plan was closing down the NBP in 2028 and transferring it to another site outside of Metro Manila.
For his part, Gavan offered the services of the PCG to BuCor, such as using its surface assets and buses to relocate inmates and aircraft for inspections of penal facilities and training BuCor personnel in security, medical, and other specialized field.
“While having distinct jurisdictions, this partnership strengthens and expands links between the two agencies through a spirit of cooperation and coordination to achieve the same goal,” the BuCor statement said.