Two local government units (LGUs) have stepped forward to bolster the country’s corrections system by donating lands for the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to establish regional prison facilities. This move, announced by BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., marks a significant step in modernizing the correctional landscape and bringing inmates closer to their families for better rehabilitation outcomes.
Who donated the land and where?
The provincial government of Nueva Ecija and the town of Maigo in Lanao del Norte are the benefactors of this land donation drive. Nueva Ecija, through Gov. Aurelio Umali, contributed 60 hectares of land in Pinaltakan, Palayan City. The agreement paves the way for BuCor to expand its regional infrastructure with a multi-phase development plan. In Maigo, Lanao del Norte, a deed of donation for the initial 9.9 hectares of the 50 hectares pledged by Mayor Rafael Rizalda was signed on Oct. 13, signaling robust local support for the national correctional reform agenda.
BuCor’s long-term vision for regional facilities
Catapang outlined BuCor’s sweeping plan to construct 16 regional facilities nationwide. The ambitious project envisions one facility for male inmates and one for female inmates in every region, complemented by specialized units for offenders convicted of heinous crimes. This framework aims to provide a more modern, humane, and efficient correctional environment compared to the current system.
Sentencing to rehabilitation: a shift in focus
The regional prison facilities are designed with rehabilitation at the core. BuCor envisions settings that support educational and vocational programs, mental health services, and restorative justice initiatives. By decentralizing confinement and reducing overcrowding in central facilities, the regional approach seeks to improve safety, operational efficiency, and opportunities for inmates to reintegrate into their communities.
Why land donations matter
Land donations from local governments are pivotal to accelerating the construction timeline and ensuring the sustainability of regional facilities. By leveraging the support of localities, BuCor can align correctional infrastructure with regional needs, address capacity gaps, and enable inmates to maintain closer familial ties—a factor increasingly recognized as essential to successful rehabilitation. The proximity to families can also reduce the barriers to reintegration, such as travel costs and time for visitation, which are often cited as hindrances in long-term rehabilitation strategies.
Expected benefits for communities and inmates
– Improved rehabilitation outcomes: Closer proximity to families and communities can encourage inmates to participate more actively in programs that prepare them for release.
– Enhanced regional safety: A broader, well-maintained regional network helps alleviate overcrowding at central facilities, reducing security concerns and improving living conditions for PDLs.
– Economic and social benefits: Local land donations can stimulate regional development, create opportunities for partnerships with educational and vocational institutions, and strengthen ties between government agencies and the communities they serve.
What comes next?
BuCor will work on the legal and logistical steps to convert donated lands into functional regional prisons. The agency emphasizes a collaborative, phased approach to ensure that construction, staffing, and program implementation align with national standards for correctional facilities. Governors, mayors, and other local stakeholders will likely play ongoing roles as the regional campuses progress from land allocation to groundbreaking and eventual operation.
A step toward humane corrections
Catapang underlined that the shift toward regional facilities reflects a commitment to a humane and effective correctional framework. The regional model aligns with contemporary correctional philosophies that emphasize rehabilitation, social reintegration, and family involvement as core elements of successful outcomes. As this initiative moves forward, it is poised to become a landmark in the country’s correctional reform, potentially serving as a blueprint for other nations facing similar challenges.
