Visitors of PDLs now accepted in BuCor's 7 prison facilities

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has resumed accepting visitors of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in its seven prison facilities nationwide.
But BuCor emphasized that visitors must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, must present vaccination cards and government-issued identification cards; must undergo rapid antigen test; and must observe minimum health standard protocols like proper wearing of facemask and physical distancing.
It said the face-to-face visit was restored by BuCor Director General Gerald Q Bantag after more than two years of suspension since Covid-19 hit the country in March 2020.
BuCor Deputy Director General Gabriel P. Chaclag said that since March 29, 2022, the seven prison facilities have been declared Covid-free.
Chaclag said that since Jan. 20, 2022, there had been no report of Covid-19 infection among all personnel and PDLs.
He attributed BuCor’s fight against Covid-19 to “prevention measures, vaccinations, and distribution of vitamins to PDLs and staff.”
BuCor records showed that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 688 PDLs and 599 personnel had been infected. Thirty-three PDLs and eight personnel succumbed due to infections.
BuCor’s seven prison facilities are the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, Leyte Regional Prison in Leyte, and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in Davao del Norte.
Last data from BuCor showed there are 48,436 PDLs in the seven prison facilities.