Rotary Club backs BuCor regionalization program

The Bureau of Corrections has expressed its gratitude to the Municipality of Maigo, Lanao del Norte and Cagayan de Oro City Rotary Club for supporting the regionalization program of the bureau by donating 9.6 hectares of land.

This, as BuCor director general Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. received the deed of donation from Maigo Mayor Rafael Rizalda and witnessed by Prof. Dalamacio Caringal and Noel Tito Mora, president of Cagayan de Oro City Rotary Club in a simple ceremony held recently at the Luxe Hotel in Limketkai, Cagayan de Oro City.

It covered an expansive 9.6398 hectares of land, generously given in support of BuCor's Regionalization Program.

The program — based on RA 11928 Regionalization Plan — is specifically designed to tackle the pressing issue of congestion in BuCor's current prison facilities. To ensure the suitability and feasibility of the proposed area, a thorough site visitation was conducted, allowing for comprehensive assessment and evaluation by BuCor officials.

BuCor's long term program includes the construction of 16 regional facilities, one facility for male and one for female for every region; and facilities for heinous crime offenders at Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija for Luzon, Camp Macario B. Palta in Jamindan, Capiz for Visayas, and Camp Kibaritan, Kalimantan in Bukidnon for Mindanao.

The plan is to reconfigure prison facilities to accommodate only 2,500 PDLs per facility.

"This donation marks a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by BuCor and aligns with their commitment to providing a more efficient and effective correctional system," Catapang said.