Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. on Friday outlined his modernization and reform agenda, saying the bureau is being reshaped into a human-rights-based, development-driven and reform-centered institution.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the second day of the Department of Justice’s three-day Justice Summit, Catapang said, “we believe that corrections is not about walls; it is about people, and our task is not simply to keep individuals within boundaries, but to help them rediscover their purpose and their place in society.”

Catapang said the bureau’s flagship projects — including the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm Mega Ecozone, the Regional Prison Facilities, and partnerships with local and international organizations — aim not only to ease overcrowding in prisons but also to decentralize opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.

He said genuine reform requires collective effort and compassion. “The road to a truly humane justice system requires the collective strength of our institutions and the shared compassion of our people,” he added.

Catapang said BuCor’s approach is centered on providing second chances through education, livelihood programs, skills training, faith-based initiatives and mental health support.

“By nurturing these opportunities, the bureau seeks to restore human dignity and prepare persons deprived of liberty for a life beyond prison walls,” he said.

Catapang also urged participants of the summit to play an active role in ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of justice, emphasizing that “justice, at its core, is not punitive but transformative.”

“For the BuCor, we renew our vow to be a pillar of hope within the justice system, a bureau that not only safeguards but also reforms, rehabilitates and reintegrates,” he said.

“Allow me to echo our shared aspiration: that one day, justice in the Philippines will no longer be measured by the strength of our laws alone, but by the compassion of our institutions, the kindness of our leaders, and the second chances we give to those who seek redemption,” he added.

Catapang reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to reforms that focus on rehabilitation and empowerment, saying BuCor aims to promote inclusivity, humanity, and accountability in all aspects of its operations.