MANILA, Philippines—The notorious address of the country’s most hardened criminals could be the next boom town in southern Metro Manila with the Bureau of Corrections’ plan to disperse the 20,000 inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to four regional penitentiaries.
Sen. Franklin Drilon said the creation of regional slammers would unlock the potential of the NBP property sprawled over 400 hectares of prime real estate. It used to cover 500 ha until 100 ha were converted into housing for Department of Justiceemployees called “Katarungan Village.”
“We can regionalize the Bureau of Corrections and hit two birds with one stone. [We would have] a better facility for the rehabilitation of our inmates and the government would have a disposable asset, which could go a long way in augmenting resources and therefore achieve our objective of a balanced budget,” Drilon said in a press conference.
The Bureau of Corrections estimated that a regional penitentiary would cost P800 million each and could house up to 5,000 inmates.
“That’s just P3.2 billion. But you can imagine the kind of resources that can be generated before this valuable asset gets dissipated by various presidential issuances [and given away] to various sectors of society,” said Drilon.
During the Arroyo administration, Malacañang had proposed that the NBP’s estimated 20,000 convicts be transferred to a 270-ha property in Tanay, Rizal.
Drilon said the Bureau of Corrections was planning to build two regional penitentiaries in Luzon, and one facility each in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“It will help in the rehabilitation of our inmates when they are closer to their families in the provinces. There can be more visitations and interaction. This will go a long way in the rehabilitation of our prisoners,” Drilon said.
Muntinlupa is a city of contrasts.
While “Munti” has been synonymous to national penitentiary in the Philippines, it is also the site of the exclusive Ayala-Alabang Village which has made the area the most vibrant commercial-residential district outside of Makati City.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer Sept. 21, 2010.
Sen. Franklin Drilon said the creation of regional slammers would unlock the potential of the NBP property sprawled over 400 hectares of prime real estate. It used to cover 500 ha until 100 ha were converted into housing for Department of Justiceemployees called “Katarungan Village.”
“We can regionalize the Bureau of Corrections and hit two birds with one stone. [We would have] a better facility for the rehabilitation of our inmates and the government would have a disposable asset, which could go a long way in augmenting resources and therefore achieve our objective of a balanced budget,” Drilon said in a press conference.
The Bureau of Corrections estimated that a regional penitentiary would cost P800 million each and could house up to 5,000 inmates.
“That’s just P3.2 billion. But you can imagine the kind of resources that can be generated before this valuable asset gets dissipated by various presidential issuances [and given away] to various sectors of society,” said Drilon.
During the Arroyo administration, Malacañang had proposed that the NBP’s estimated 20,000 convicts be transferred to a 270-ha property in Tanay, Rizal.
Drilon said the Bureau of Corrections was planning to build two regional penitentiaries in Luzon, and one facility each in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“It will help in the rehabilitation of our inmates when they are closer to their families in the provinces. There can be more visitations and interaction. This will go a long way in the rehabilitation of our prisoners,” Drilon said.
Muntinlupa is a city of contrasts.
While “Munti” has been synonymous to national penitentiary in the Philippines, it is also the site of the exclusive Ayala-Alabang Village which has made the area the most vibrant commercial-residential district outside of Makati City.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer Sept. 21, 2010.
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