(Photo courtesy : BuCor FB page)
PUERTO PRICESA CITY, Palawan – The Bureau of Corrections has transferred around 300 persons deprived of liberty to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm as part of its sustained effort to ease congestion at the New Bilibid Prison.
The transfer was carried out via sea transport, with the PDLs placed under the supervision of commissioned and non-commissioned officers to ensure security, order, and proper management throughout the journey. BuCor said the operation forms part of its broader strategy to redistribute inmates across operating prisons and penal farms nationwide to improve facility management and living conditions.
Authorities emphasized that security measures were reinforced during the transfer, noting that similar large-scale movements have been ongoing since 2023 to gradually reduce the population at the country’s largest penitentiary. The bureau said these efforts are aimed at creating a more balanced corrections system while maintaining safety for both personnel and inmates.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. has earlier outlined plans to completely relocate all remaining PDLs from the New Bilibid Prison by 2028, paving the way for the site’s redevelopment into what he has described as BuCor Global City.
Officials at Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, for their part, reaffirmed their commitment to effective inmate management, strengthened security, and orderly operations as they absorb additional PDLs under the national decongestion program.