MANILA – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced on Thursday that significant strides are being made by the government to alleviate the long-standing issue of prison overcrowding in the Philippines. BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. highlighted these efforts during an appearance on the Bagong Pilipinas news program, suggesting that these initiatives could become a hallmark of the Marcos administration’s legacy.
Catapang pointed out the dire situation at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, the nation’s largest prison, which has been struggling for the past half-century. He noted that the first prison was established during the Spanish colonial period, with the most recent construction dating back to 1973. Currently, the prison system is designed to accommodate only 12,000 inmates, yet it is currently housing 55,000.
Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration, efforts are underway to address these issues comprehensively. These include modernizing and digitizing prison records, and redistributing inmates from the overcrowded NBP to less congested penal farms and other facilities. In 2024 alone, nearly 8,000 inmates were released, and the redistribution efforts have reduced the NBP’s population from 30,000 to 25,000.
A recent Supreme Court decision allowing heinous crime offenders to benefit from good conduct and time allowance (GCTA) has further supported these decongestion efforts. Catapang stated that this ruling could lead to the release of an additional 10,000 inmates this year, with releases already underway since December of the previous year.
Despite these advancements, Catapang acknowledged the ongoing challenge of ensuring successful reintegration of released inmates into society. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive national approach to address this issue, noting the difficulties some former inmates face when returning to their families, who may no longer be there to support them.
Additionally, Catapang mentioned that various companies are collaborating with BuCor to provide job opportunities for ex-convicts, and several universities have partnered with the bureau to offer educational programs that can lead to degrees for inmates.