Bilibid decongestion to 200% eyed in 2025
MOST CONGESTED PRISON The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City has a capacity for only 6,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) but currently houses around 25,000, according to Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Dir. Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. INQUIRER FILES/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Decongestion of the New Bilibid Prison from the current 250 percent to 200 percent is among the top priorities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) for 2025.
BuCor chief Dir. Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the country’s national penitentiary, commonly known as Bilibid, currently has a population of 25,000, although the facility should only accommodate 6,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
He also said that initially, the Bilibid, which is located in Muntinlupa City, was congested by 350 percent.
“We plan to decongest {Bilibid] because it’s 350 percent [congested]. We have already reduced it by 250 [percent], so next year, it will be reduced a little to 200 [percent],” said Catapang in mixed Filipino and English during an interview with Radyo 630 on Sunday, Dec. 29.
READ: Overcrowding in Bilibid stands at 358 percent, says BuCor
Article continues after this advertisementThe BuCor head noted that Bilibid’s overcrowding is the main reason for their efforts to build new jail facilities in other regions.
Article continues after this advertisement“Transfer is inevitable because only 6,000 can fit there [Bilibid], but now there are around 25,000 there, so many become sick. Many problems arise due to congestion,” Catapang said in mixed Filipino and English.
READ: Bilibid ‘killers’: Disease, congestion claim 5,000 inmates yearly
Catapang also cited BuCor’s additional penal facility in Barrio Libertad, Palawan, where PDLs will no longer be placed behind bars.
“They will no longer be placed behind bars, instead they will be placed in barracks and they will be guarded,” he noted.
The BuCor chief earlier bared that they need more funds to fully implement their five-year development and modernization plan in order to ease overcrowding and alleviate the suffering of PDLs in its existing seven prison facilities and penal farms nationwide.
