It will be a new era of security as loyal and vigilant four-legged guardians will join the Bureau of Corrections force, ready to sniff out trouble and keep our prisons and penal farms outside Metro Manila safe and secure.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. announced yesterday the innovative initiative of deploying highly trained K-9 dogs to provide additional protection and vigilance at these critical facilities and ensure our correctional institutions' safety and integrity.

Aside from the K-9 dogs, Catapang said enhanced closed-circuit television systems that can be monitored from the national headquarters will be installed in all facilities.

BuCor 's 2024 P7.4 billion budget is 23 percent more than last year's P6.1 billion.

A supplementary P1 billion from the Department of Public Works and Highways was allocated for the construction of Supermax facilities for heinous crime offenders.

"Napakarami nating gagawin sa BuCor kaya sumakay na kayo kasi baka kayo maiwan (There is much to be done at BuCor, so get on board)," Catapang said, urging BuCor personnel to swiftly complete their 2023 budget utilization and accountability reports to assess their physical and financial achievements.

ALVIN MURCIA @tribunephl_alvi