Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday met with Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials in Muntinlupa City to discuss the possibility of allocating 20 hectares of land inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to become its permanent headquarters.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. met with PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan to link up the two offices and strengthen the possibility of sharing their resources.
Catapang, announced last year plans to decongest the BuCor compound in Muntinlupa by transferring persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to the regions for the next five years. The properties to be vacated would be turned into government centers, he had said.
The PCG is asking the BuCor if it could use at least 20 hectares of that land for its headquarters.
In return, the PCG said the BuCor may use PCG vessels and buses to transport persons deprived of liberty around the country.
The PCG said it could also train BuCor personnel to use PCG aircraft for transport during the inspection of regional prisons and penal facilities.
The BuCor initially said they could only offer 3 hectares of land for the PCG's use. The bureau also offered the PCG a parcel of land in its Palawan property, close to the West Philippine Sea.
“Technology conquered time and space. We are now technology driven so we can do business without going to Manila. So there is no need for bigger offices as we can farm out personnel and logistics,” Catapang said. (PNA)
