In a bid to bolster its reintegration efforts, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has ordered the establishment of halfway houses across all operating prisons and penal farms (OPPFs) nationwide.

Catapang said the initiative aims to better prepare persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for life after incarceration by ensuring they receive support and resources prior to release.

In a memorandum addressed to OPPF superintendents and external affairs units, Catapang stressed the importance of a comprehensive, structured reintegration program. These halfway houses will offer services such as counseling, orientation activities, interviews, and short courses intended to equip PDLs with practical skills and coping mechanisms. 

The halfway houses will serve as temporary residences for individuals about to be released. They are envisioned not only as transitional spaces but also as secure holding areas for those whose settlement arrangements are still pending.

To facilitate the rollout, Catapang directed concerned officers to submit detailed site plans and designs for the halfway houses, including budget proposals.

While awaiting full implementation and funding, officials have been instructed to identify suitable areas within their facilities where PDLs nearing release can be separated from the general prison population and begin their reintegration programs.

All planning and construction efforts are to be guided by the technical specifications outlined in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10575, also known as the BuCor Modernization Act of 2013.