An agricultural camp that will hold children in conflict with the law (CICL) will rise in Magalang, Pampanga, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Wednesday, April 24.
In a statement, BuCor said that Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian who was represented by Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar, and Pampanga State Agriculture University (PSAU) President Anita G. David signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of the facility.
“Based on Republic Act no. 9344, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, particularly Section 51, a child in conflict with the law may, after conviction and upon order of the court, be made to serve his/her sentence, in lieu of confinement in a regular penal institution, in an agricultural camp and other training facilities that may be established, maintained, supervised and controlled by the BuCor, in coordination with the DSWD,” BuCor said.
With the signing of the MOA, Catapang expressed hope that the DSWD will also seek to open more agricultural camps.
Catapang offered to the DSWD the reservation of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto, Princesa which has 28,000 hectares.
BuCor said it has been the vision of Catapang to make persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to be more productive.
It said that the engagement of PDLs in agricultural activities is “being done in Iwahig and we hope to replicate it in other areas.”