MANILA, Philippines — While it is good that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is entering business ventures that would improve the agency, a lawmaker has reminded its officials that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) must be prioritized in these dealings.
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan was referring to the deal that BuCor signed with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) to allow the latter to establish economic zones on idle lands belonging to BuCor.
A memorandum of understanding was signed for the use of some BuCor lands, like the 25,000 hectares of the 28,000-hectare Iwahig property in Palawan, which is one of BuCor’s prisons and penal farms.
“We laud [Director] General [Gregorio] Catapang for taking the lead in developing BuCor’s real estate assets through tie-ups with the private sector. This plan is a key factor in transforming the bureau into a modern, highly professionalized, and self-sustaining agency,” Yamsuan said on Tuesday.
“As it starts to earn from its business activities, we are optimistic that BuCor would ensure that improving the welfare of the PDLs under its custody would be its top priority in spending its additional income,” he added.
Yamsuan said the Iwahig penal farm can become a model and lead to more idle Bucor lands generating income for the agency and improving conditions for PDLs.
“The Iwahig penal farm can even become a model for BuCor in uplifting the welfare of PDLs under its care,” he said.
“The twin projects of establishing an agricultural hub and an ecozone in the site will provide PDLs with enough nutritious food, generate additional income for BuCor to elevate their living conditions, and give them the opportunity to get decent jobs,” he added.
Catapang last January 31 said that there are other idle lands owned by BuCor, noting that another 7,000-hectare land in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental could also be tapped by Peza.
A penal colony also sits in the Sablayan land mentioned.
Aside from the use of the land, Catapang said prisoners in the Iwahig prison and penal farm can be tapped by industries operating in the proposed economic hub.
Currently, there are around 3,000 prisoners at Iwahig, with some living with their respective families.
READ: PEZA to tap BuCor land for ecozones
With reports from Melanie Tamayo, INQUIRER.net trainee