The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) allowed families of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) on Wednesday to visit all correctional facilities to foster family solidarity and promote the morale and welfare of PDLs.

Regular visits will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., while BuCor is authorizing stay-in privileges for wives and common-law wives of PDLs during the holiday season.

In a memorandum, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. outlined how these stay-in privileges will be implemented in two batches for each holiday period. This approach ensures that more families can benefit from the privileges while maintaining order within the facilities.

For Christmas, the first batch can stay from 8 a.m. on 24 December until 7 a.m. on 25 December, while the second batch can stay from 8 a.m. on 25 December until 7 a.m. on 26 December.

Similarly, during the New Year festivities, the first batch will stay from 8 a.m. on 31 December until 7 a.m. on 1 January 2025, and the second batch from 8 a.m. on 1 January to 7 a.m. on 2 January 2025.

Catapang emphasized that Christmas is a time for family, and this initiative reflects BuCor’s commitment to nurturing family relationships, even within the confines of correctional facilities.

"This initiative reflects a broader understanding of the importance of family ties in the rehabilitation process of PDLs, underscoring that even those within correctional facilities deserve the opportunity to connect meaningfully with their loved ones," Catapang said.