BuCor eyes Munti housing project

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. disclosed to residents of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City the plan to construct housing unit for them as part of the alleviation program of the government.

This was revealed by Catapang when he met with the residents to also enjoin them to patronize the Kadiwa Pop Up Store inside the reservation area.

He said BuCor has set aside eight hectares of land in the sprawling jail facility south of Metro Manila to somewhat alleviate the problem of the residents in their current housing units.

"We have already set aside eight hectares for you for the construction of new housing units and hopefully we can display the plan. We will relocate you to condominium units so your lives will be upgraded," Catapang said.

He added no amount of repair can be done in the current houses of the residents in Bilibid because it is already dilapidated and the electrical connections are no longer viable.

"You have to be relocated with the new housing units complete with swimming pool, mall and other amenities not like this," Catapang said.

Catapang reiterated the plan of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to convert the sprawling NBP in Muntinlupa City into a government center.

This was aside from the plan to construct new housing units for them, the BuCor will also push through with the marching orders of Remulla to turn it into a government center.

"Justice Secretary Remulla said that it should be converted into a government center South of Metro Manila to maximize the land as it is no longer viable to have a prison facility in this area," he said.

Catapang added that by doing the conversion, BuCor can help the government in the beautification of the area and uplifting the lives of the residents.

The idea of converting the area into a government center will commence once the plan to transfer its inmates to a prison facility in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro is realized in 2028.

Earlier, Remulla said the Sablayan Prison and Penal Colony is the most logical choice to house inmates from the national penitentiary, particularly those convicted for heinous crimes and are currently detained at the NBP's maximum security compound, given its size and location.

The SPPC, which was established September 1954 by virtue of Proclamation No.72, has a total land area of 16,190 hectares. It is the nearest penal colony from Metro Manila operated by the BuCor.