The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the University of the Philippines (UP) have signed a land swap agreement on their two properties with an area of 500 hectares each.
In the case of BuCor, the bureau will turn over to UP part of its reservation at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
UP, on the other hand, will allow BuCor to use part of its property in Laguna under its Laguna-Quezon land grant.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the land that UP will turn over to the bureau will be used to establish a regional prison with the planned closure of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City in 2028.
UP President Angelo Jimenez said he will create a technical working group to determine the use of the land at the IPPF.
The memorandum of agreement (MOU) on the land swap was signed by Catapang and Jimenez last Friday, August 1 at the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City.
Catapang said “this MOU could serve as a model for future collaborations aimed at enhancing public service and educational initiatives across the country.”
Also, BuCor signed a MOA with UP Open University (UPOU) to provide courses to BuCor’s personnel and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Under the MOA, the UPOU will facilitate access to its Massive Open Online Courses, which include courses relevant to workforce development and professional growth for Bucor personnel and PDLs, while UPAA will coordinate between UPOU and Bucor with regard to information materials, PDLs inquiries, enlistment and participation and guidance during program implementation.
The UPAA will allow the services of its Job Placement Office to PDLs who have graduated from the UPOU program and who are due for release.