Catapang urges prisons to enter into business with private sector

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Monday urged operating prisons and penal farms (OPPF) nationwide to enter into business ventures with the private sector.

Catapang said this will help realize the agency’s vision of being relevant and sustainable.

“Imagine kung lahat ng OPPF namin ay may income, baka dumating ang panahon na hindi na kami hihingi ng budget sa gobyerno at kami pa ang magbibigay. Sa lawak ng lupain ng BuCor, 'di malayong mangyari 'yan,” he said in a statement.

(Imagine if all the OPPFs nationwide can generate income. There may come a time when we will no longer ask for a budget from the government and will instead contribute. Because of BuCor’s large land, it’s not impossible.)

The BuCor chief cited the case of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm which entered into a deal with a company engaged in producing and exporting fresh Cavendish bananas to Japan, Korea, the Middle East, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Catapang said BuCor earned between P20 million to P22 million per month for the lease of its land, including the guaranteed annual production share where the bananas are planted.

He said persons deprived of liberty also earned in the packaging of the produce.

Meanwhile, he said that the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm is being eyed as the first mega-economic zone to attract big-ticket investments because it will have its own power, water supply, and port.

Catapang also said there is an ongoing negotiation between the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City and another party for leasing 15 hectares for a solar project. —KG, GMA Integrated News