Another batch of 300 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City was transferred yesterday to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The move is part of the Bureau of Corrections’ (BuCor) continuing efforts to decongest the NBP ahead of its planned closure in 2028.

According to BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., the transfer is a critical component of the agency’s decongestion program, which seeks to address overcrowded conditions inside the NBP.

He said the relocated PDLs will not only be housed at IPPF but will also support its agricultural initiatives, which are steadily gaining momentum.

Part of IPPF’s 28,000 hectares is also being developed into a mega economic zone, with the integration of PDLs expected to equip them with essential skills for eventual reintegration into society.

“As we continue our path towards reform, the transfer of PDLs to Iwahig acts as both a temporary solution for decongestion and a foundational step towards a more rehabilitative approach to incarceration where inmates can contribute positively to society even while serving their sentences,” Catapang said.