PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan — More than 490 prisoners at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in this city headed to the farm fields early Saturday morning to plant vegetables and rice.

Penal farm superintendent Chief Insp. Gary Garcia and corrections officers escorted inmates from the medium and low-security facilities to prepare the seeds and cultivate a 62-hectare tract of land.

Levi Evangelista, spokesperson for Iwahig, said two hectares will be allocated for growing vegetables, while the remaining 60 hectares will be used for rice planting to ensure food sufficiency for persons deprived of liberty.

During a visit to Daily Tribune, Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said arable land in various penal colonies in the country would be devoted to agriculture to augment the P70-a-day food budget allocated for each detainee.

Evangelista said the undertaking is the realization of BuCor's signing of an agreement with the justice and agriculture departments, and the private sector.

He added that the PDLs would be taught how to use farm equipment to expedite the planting process.

Evangelista pointed out that the initial allotment of 62 hectares represents just the initial phase of the broader 501-hectare expanse designated for cultivating rice and vegetables.