The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has been given a P9.2-billion budget for this year which is 22.43 percent higher from the previous year’s allocation of P7.5 billion.

Bucor director general Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said the allocation for Personnel Services or for the payment of salaries, wages, honoraria, and other types of compensation of the personnel increased by 36.49 percent from P1.5 billion last year to more than P2 billion this year.

Their budget for operations which include rehabilitation and custodial services has also increased by 18 percent from P6 billion to P7.1 billion.

This highlights the commitment of the Marcos administration to lower the congestion rate in our operating prison and penal farms and improve the operational readiness of Bucor as it continues to address all concerns of Bucor after 50 years of neglect, Catapang said.

Catapang added that the new salient features of their budget for this year are the funding requirements for the hygiene kits of the 54,988 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) amounting to P164.9 million and the special provision for financial assistance for uniformed personnel which provides rice subsidy of 20 kilos per month amounting to P50.5 million.

Other vital provisions of their budget, according to the Bucor chief include the amount of P288 million for the actual transfer of PDLs from the New Bilibid Prison to various OPPFs, the additional provision for maintenance and other operating expenses in the amount of P75 million for the joint hosting of Bucor and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology of the 2025 ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference this February.

However, the plans outlined in Republic Act 10575 to modernize and restructure Bucor will face delays, as only P1.16 billion has been allocated for new facilities.

This includes funds for two Dormitories at Davao Prison and Penal Farm and Iwahig Prison and Penal Farms, as well as the ongoing construction of a Super Maximum Facility at Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm.

As part of the 2025 budget distribution, key institutions such as the New Bilibid Prison and the Correctional Institution for Women will receive the largest share of funding, totaling P7.3 billion, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm — P477.5 million; Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm — P473.2 million; Leyte Regional Prison — P158.1 million; and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm- P331.7 million and Davao Prison and Penal Farm — P481.3 million.