BuCor, PEZA sign deal to set up economic zones in penal colonies

THE BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Tuesday agreed to set up economic zones at idle penal colonies after the former released more than 600 inmates to decongest its prisons nationwide.

In a statement, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said the BuCor and PEZA would identify idle penal colonies that could be used as agricultural and economic zones.

“Under this partnership, idle lands of the BuCor which formerly had little to no use will now be maximized to produce economic and agricultural output making a major contribution to the country’s food security,” the DoJ said.

During the signing event, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. said potential idle lands that could be used to set up ecozones measured about 32,300 hectares in total.

The lands are composed of 25,000 hectares in Ihawig Palawan, 7,000 hectares in Sablayan Mindoro and 300 hectares in the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

“It is our firm belief that the ecozone model should not only remain relevant but must be pivotal as well in advancing our country’s socioeconomic development,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said during the agreement signing event on Tuesday.

“To date, our 422 economic zones host more than 4,350 locator projects, employing more than 1.8 million Filipinos and generating more than $65 billion in actual export sales,” he added.

In a separate statement, the DoJ said the prison bureau has released about 9,228 inmates since July 2022, noting that the agencies adhered to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

“The reforms we’ve introduced are not just about improving systems; they’re about recognizing the potential in every individual and fostering their contribution to society,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said.

The DoJ noted that it has been simplifying the parole and clemency processes and lowering bail amounts for poor inmates.

Many of the country’s jails fail to meet the United Nations’ minimum standards given inadequate food, poor nutrition and unsanitary conditions, according to Human Rights Watch.

Earlier, Mr. Remulla said the government was working on accelerating legal proceedings for inmates still in jail due to pending criminal cases. — John Victor D. Ordoñez