THE congestion rate in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City dropped by 22.4 percent this year amid the continuing transfer of Bilibid inmates to the other prison facilities operated by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Data from the BuCor showed that the NBP congestion rate now stands at 243 percent, down from 313 percent last year.
The data is among those included in the midterm accomplishment report submitted by BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Catapang said that at present, there are still more than 22,000 inmates in Bilibid.
Catapang said the decrease in the congestion rate was largely due to the transfer of 11,601 inmates from Bilibid to other BuCor prison facilities, the release of 23,629 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and the construction of new detention facilities.
Aside from NBP, the BuCor operates prison and penal farms in Iwahig, Davao, San Ramon in Zamboanga City, Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro, and Leyte.
The BuCor has a P288 million budget for the transfer of Bilibid inmates to its other operating prisons and penal farms.
Yesterday, 300 prisoners arrived at the Sablayan penal farm, escorted by 100 correction officers and members of the BuCor SWAT, NBP Escort Group and medical personnel.
Catapang also reported that from June 2022 to June 2025, a total of 23,629 Bilibid inmates regained their freedom.
“This was achieved thru efficiency in Management Screening and Evaluation Committee, the effective implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance and expanded access to parole and executive clemency, “ he said.
In his report, Catapang said new dormitories are also under construction to accommodate up to 3,000 beds in the Iwahig, Sablayan, Davao prison and penal farms and the Leyte Regional Prison.
He said the Bucor needs 32 more dormitories, which would amount to P14.6 billion, to fully address the backlog.
He said the Department of Budget and Management has provided P6 billion for the construction of eight dormitories, including the “supermax” facility in Sablayan.
He likewise said the bureau is also developing its land assets to drive economic growth through the conversion of part of its land in the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farms into a mega economic zone.
He said this will be replicated in Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farms in Zamboanga.
On security measures inside its prison and penal farms, Catapang said they have confiscated 139,738 prohibited items,
and dismantled 5,505 “kubols” in Bilibid but and the other prison and penal farms, enhancing the safety of both officers and inmates.
Additionally, he said BuCor has also strengthened its digital services, including “e-dalaw,” “e-burol” and e-hearing to ensure that inmates maintain connections with their families and have continued access to justice.
The bureau has also hired 4,004 new personnel, while 10,244 existing staff are undergoing specialized education and training to keep pace with modern correctional practices.
“Furthermore, as part of a rigorous commitment to maintaining order and integrity, 157 personnel were either dismissed or suspended without pay due to misconduct, emphasizing Bucor’s zero-tolerance policy for unethical behavior,” Catapang said.
The BuCor and the Department of Justice have laid out plans to close Bilibid by 2028 and develop it, in cooperation with the private sector, as a commercial and business area similar to the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
