MANILA — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Sunday transferred another 200 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the latest transfer is part of the agency’s ongoing preparation for the planned closure of the NBP by 2028.

The agency earlier reported that 15,730 PDLs have been relocated since 2022 to various prison and penal farms across the country as part of its decongestion program.

Catapang said the relocation effort is also aimed at modernizing and decentralizing the country’s correctional system.

He added that the NBP compound spans 375.61 hectares, with 160 hectares allocated for commercial leasing and another 106 hectares intended for Public-Private Partnership or joint venture projects.

According to Catapang, the plan is designed to generate long-term revenue to support BuCor’s modernization initiatives while ensuring that ownership of all assets remains with the government.

He stressed that no government property will be sold and that lessees will be charged lease rates estimated at PHP 65 to PHP 100 per square meter per month, inclusive of value-added tax.

Based on the projected rates, annual revenue from the 160-hectare commercial portion alone could range from PHP 1.25 billion to PHP 1.92 billion, BuCor said.