MANILA — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said congestion in Philippine jails has declined to about 200 percent since the start of the Marcos administration.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said prison congestion previously ranged from 300 to 350 percent but has since improved due to ongoing decongestion efforts.

“In four years’ time, na-decongest na natin [ang mga kulungan]. Dati, 300 to 350 [percent]. Ngayon, 200% na lang yung congestion,” Catapang said in an interview on “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

He said the reduction was partly achieved through the implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) program, which allows persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to earn sentence reductions through good behavior, study, and work.

Catapang added that the current PDL population stands at around 32,000, with a target of releasing about 10,000 inmates annually.

“As of now, as of last count, 32,000 na tayo. And then, ang target ko every year, mga 10,000 kada isang taon na papapalaya,” he said.

He said BuCor’s decongestion efforts also include the construction of new correctional facilities in Palawan, Nueva Ecija, and Laguna.

The bureau is also planning to establish 13 regional facilities and two additional facilities for individuals convicted of heinous crimes.

Currently, BuCor operates in only five of the country’s 19 regions: the National Capital Region, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Davao Region.

The agency said it is seeking to expand its presence to other regions, including the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros Island Region, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Catapang also said BuCor has begun developing a Super Maximum Facility in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro as part of its long-term infrastructure program.