The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) met recently and discussed agricultural production and settlement of land disputes within prison reservations.
The meeting was held between BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. and NCIP Chairperson Dr. Marie T. Pascua.
To address issues on land disputes between BuCor and indigenous peoples within prison reservations, Catapang said that a technical working group (TWG) will be set up.
He said the TWG will be tasked to review existing land claims, identify areas of conflict, and propose joint solutions aligned with legal mandates and cultural sensitivity.
It was not disclosed how many hectares of land are being claimed by indigenous peoples in BuCor’s prison reservations.
Catapang said that the BuCor and the NCIP declared their commitment “to pursue the next steps through institutional coordination, guided by transparency, respect for cultural heritage, and a shared vision for nation-building.”
Also, during the meeting, Catapang said that the BuCor sought partnership with NCIP to support food production within prison reservations and reformation of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Currently, the BuCor is engaged in agricultural projects in its prison facilities using PDLs for its manpower. The PDLs, in turn, get extra income from their agricultural produce.
Catapang had declared that through sustainable agriculture and land development, the BuCor can be a strategic player in enhancing food security while also contributing to the productive reintegration of PDLs.