Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said that by establishing 13 more regional facilities and two additional facilities for heinous crimes, Bucor can move towards a more equitable and effective correctional system.
This is align with Republic Act 10575 and Republic Act 11928, Catapang said.
RA 10575, or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, mandates the establishment of Regional Prison Facilities (RPFs) to reduce reliance on mega-prisons and to bring correctional facilities closer to communities, while RA 11928 mandates the establishment of separate facilities for heinous crimes—one each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
In a presentation made by Engr. Al Cir Juan R. Rañosa, Bucor Acting Director, Directorate for Engineering Services, during the 2nd Jail Decongestion Summit held recently at the Manila Hotel. It was noted that the Bureau currently operates in only 5 out of the 18 regions across the country. The existing facilities are located in:
1. National Capital Region (NCR)
2. Region IV-B (MIMAROPA)
3. Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)
4. Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)
5. Region XI (Davao Region)
This shortfall highlights an urgent need to establish a presence in underserved areas such as the Cordillera Administrative Region , Region I (Ilocos Region), Region II (Cagayan Valley), Region III (Central Luzon), Region IV-A (CALABARZON), Region V (Bicol Region), Region VI (Western Visayas), Region VII (Central Visayas), Negros Island Region (NIR), Region X (Northern Mindanao), Region XII (SOCCKSARGEN), Region XIII (CARAGA Region), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Catapang said the Bucor has commenced the establishment of a Super Maximum Facility (SMF) in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, for the Luzon area. No SMFs for heinous crimes have been established in Visayas and Mindanao, requiring continued site identification and resource allocation.
The Bucor chief stated that this shift will not only alleviate current pressures but also align the nation’s practices with the best international standards, fostering a more humane approach to incarceration.
“The time to act is now; for a just and rehabilitative correctional system to thrive, proactive measures must be taken to bridge the existing gaps,” Catapang said.
