MANILA — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has begun building a new correctional facility in Puerto Princesa City as part of efforts to modernize the country’s prison system and address congestion in existing jails.

The project, located in Sitio Tagbarungis, Barangay Inagawan, is a P480-million development within a 10-hectare secured area inside the Inagawan Sub-Colony of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said the facility is intended to ease overcrowding, which has long affected safety, security, and living conditions of inmates nationwide.

“This groundbreaking marks a milestone in the government’s commitment to create a secure, orderly, and future-ready environment that not only ensures safe custody but also fosters reformation and opportunity for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs),” Catapang said.

He also expressed gratitude to Senator Erwin Tulfo, who attended the event as guest of honor, for supporting the agency’s programs.

“Once completed, it will house up to 2,500 PDLs in an environment conducive to rehabilitation, focusing on humane treatment, safety, and operational efficiency,” Catapang added.

BuCor said the facility will incorporate sustainable features, including rooftop solar panels and solar-powered street lights, aimed at improving energy efficiency and lowering operational costs while supporting environmental conservation.

Catapang said the integration of such technologies reflects the agency’s push to align with global trends and strengthen innovation in correctional management.

The agency earlier held a separate groundbreaking for a P470-million correctional facility on a 60-hectare property in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, which was donated by the provincial government.

Both projects are expected to be completed before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.

BuCor said the initiatives are in line with Republic Act No. 10575, enacted on May 24, 2013, which mandates the modernization and restructuring of the corrections system to improve custodial and rehabilitation services, upgrade facilities, and expand personnel.

“RA 10575 is the cornerstone of our reform agenda,” Catapang said. “This project exemplifies our dedication to not only comply with the legal framework but also to advance our vision of a correctional system that respects human dignity and facilitates effective reformation.”