PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — Some 300 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were transferred to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Plalawan from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) as part of the continuous decongestion the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
IPPF Superintendent Gary Garcia said that all necessary precautions were taken to prevent risks to the community with high security measures to safeguard the PDLs.
“The transfer, which took place under heightened security, marks a significant step in addressing overcrowding at NBP,” Garcia said.
After the arrival of PDLs in Puerto Princesa Sea Port via commercial vessel, they were transferred to IPPF and underwent thorough inspection before deploying to the facilities of the penal prison.
BuCor Director-General Gregorio Catapang Jr. envisions transferring out all PDL from NBP by 2028 and transforming it into BuCor Global City.
During the arrival of the first batch of transferred PDLs, Catapang said a total of 2,500 PDLs are expected to be transferred to IPPF.
The Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong also implements the same decongestion effort. The Sta. Lucia sub-colony was converted as CIW to accommodate female PDLs transferred to IPPF from Mandaluyong in 2023.
The bureau commits to creating an environment conducive to reformation while ensuring that security measures are enforced to protect both the public and the PDLs. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan/Photos from Bureau of Corrections Facebook Page)
