Some of the delegates for the 2nd ASEAN Regional Corrections Conference 2025 (ARCC 2025) being held at the Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa in Sabang Beach on Friday (Feb. 14, 2025). The conference, which will run till Feb. 17, brings prison service leaders from ASEAN member-countries to discuss key issues on strengthening regional cooperation in corrections; transforming prison systems to address evolving global challenges; identifying root causes of correctional issues; and developing joint solutions. (PNA photo by Ben Pulta)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Prison service leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-countries gathered here on Friday for the 2nd ASEAN Regional Corrections Conference 2025 (ARCC 2025) to craft common solutions facing the region’s various penal systems.
The conference being held at the Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa in Sabang Beach until Feb. 17 builds upon the topics and programs established during the 1st ARCC, held at the Malaysian Correctional Academy (MCA) in Langkawi, Kedah, last Jan. 21-23, 2024.
The 2nd ARCC will focus on key discussions about strengthening regional cooperation in corrections; transforming prison systems to address evolving global challenges; identifying root causes of correctional issues and developing joint solutions.
Other topics will be on advancing rehabilitation, security, and alternative sentencing methods; utilizing digital innovations for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) management and profiling; and positioning ASEAN as a global reference for modern correctional practices.
Also in the table are agreements to come up with a system for the transfer of prisoners serving their sentence in other countries.
In an interview, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. said a number of countries have shown interest to proposals to invest in plans to lease assets of penal colonies and to make PDLs more productive members of society.
He cited the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the BuCor and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Jan. 24 to develop the country’s first mega ecozone here.
Under the MOU, an initial of 2,000 hectares out of the 25,000-hectare idle land of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) will be turned into the Palawan Mega Economic Zone.
He said the agreement upholds BuCor’s mandate, as outlined in the BuCor Modernization Act, to utilize its lands not only for inmate rehabilitation but also for generating sustainable economic opportunities.
“There are already interested people that wants to lease that property and bring more development or more productive use of that property,” he said.
Catapang said the establishment of an economic zone at the IPPF is what pushed the BuCor and PEZA to call on the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to include the island provinces of Mimaropa, especially Palawan, as part of the Luzon Economic Growth area.
The plan includes the establishment of a big airport in Palawan, which would be a big boost to tourism, he said.
“The guidance given to us is that you have to leverage your assets in order for you to replicate and move out of Metro Manila. So, I think these assets are prime assets already. We don’t intend to compete with anyone in the ASEAN. We even want the ASEAN, the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) to be more robust organizations. If we can put up a good place here in Palawan, we can, number one, food security,” he said.
Catapang said the plan also seeks to stimulate job creation, particularly in rural areas, while enhancing overall productivity and individual income for residents and qualified PDLs. (PNA)