MANILA: Prison officials on Monday said another batch of 500 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were transferred over the weekend from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City as part of a decongestion program of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). The latest batch brings to 3,993 the total number of PDLS transferred outside of Metro Manila since January of this year. BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said of this number, 999 were transferred to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; 1,000 to Davao Prison and Penal Farm; 1,000 San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm; 546 Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm; and 448 to Leyte Prison and Penal Farm. 'Continuous ang ating pag-transfer ng PDLs (The transfer of PLDs is continuous), first as part of our decongestion, second to augment the workforce needs of penal farm in agricultural project and third as part of our preparation for the closure of NBP by 2028,' Catapang said in a statement . With the guidance of Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, Catapang said the vision for the 350-hectare NBP is to turn it into a government center, open park and mixed use after its closure. Source: Philippines News Agency
