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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BuCor plans to construct airport, seaport within Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan

BuCor plans to construct airport, seaport within Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan

Published Feb 16, 2025 07:30 am

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- The Bureau of Corections (BuCor) is set to construct an airport and a seaport within the 27,000-hectare reservation of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in this city.

 BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. told journalists the setting up of an airpport and a seaport is part of the bureau’s agreement with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to turn the prison reserve in Puerto Princesa City as an economic zone.

 “There will be an airfield,” said Catapang who, during his tenure at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), was involved in the development of the military’s property in Taguig City into the Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

 "Ang gusto natin mangyari (what we want to happen is) this big airport will be the hub," he said.

He explained “from that big airport they can ride a smaller plane going to El Nido, Coron, Botswanga, and to Balapak" in Palawan.

He pointed out that the population of Puerto Princesa City is growing and its current airport may not be enough even if it expands.

He disclosed the airport in the IPPF reservation will be around 1,000 hectares which, he said, is “twice the size of the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport).”

The seaport that will be erected is aimed at becoming "an international port that can cater for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” Catapang said.

He added that the seaport will be part of the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The BIMP-EAGA is a cooperation initiative established in 1994 to spur development in remote and less developed areas in the four participating Southeast Asian countries.

At the same time, Catapang revealed that he also plans to purchase within two years an airplane and a ship to transport prisoners as well as agricultural produce of BuCor facilities.

 In January last year, the BuCor and PEZA signed a memorandum of agreement (MOU) to identify areas within the penal colonies which have the potential to become economic zones.

Under the partnership between BuCor and PEZA, "the idle lands of the BuCor which formerly had little to no use will now be maximized to produce economic and agricultural outputs making a major contribution to the country’s food security.”

 

Related Tags

Iwahig PEZA Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
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