PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA)--Some 450 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) and Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) arrived Sunday in Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm as part of the continuous decongestion efforts of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
The second batch of PDLs included 50 female inmates from the CIW in Mandaluyong and 400 male inmates from the NBP in Muntinlupa who arrived via commercial vessel. The bureau initially sent 500 inmates in June as the first batch out of 2,500 PDLs to be transferred to IPPF.
IPPF Information Officer CTO II Levi Evangelista said that the penal prison and its sub-colonies can still house the second batch of PDLs. All male inmates were sent to the central sub-colony in Iwahig, while female inmates were transferred to Sta. Lucia CIW. The PDLs are under minimum and medium security from NBP and CIW.
“Iwahig as one of the operating prison and penal farms, ay may kakayanan pa naman na paglagakan nitong mga PDL— Ang mga dumating ay upon their request na mapalapit sa pamilya nila,” Evangelista said.

The personnel of the Bureau of Corrections check each male inmate before getting on the bus. (Photo from IPPF/ CTO II Levi Evangelista)
The management also fast-tracked the completion of the 10-hectare dormitory compound to serve as additional housing for the PDLs at IPPF. It has a budget of P300 million and with 50 cells.
Even though IPPF assured that it can still accommodate an additional number of PDLs, it is also a challenge to ensure security on their end, Evangelista said. The number of personnel has increased to 403, which management believes is enough to man more or less 3,500 PDLs in four sub-colonies.
“To secure them, and secondly, ang pasilidad natin ay capable ba, yon ang na-consider natin before pa dumating ang PDLs. We see to it na maayos ang kanilang tutulugan o dadatnan nila compared sa kanilang pinanggalingan,” he said.

A line of female inmates from the Correctional Institution for Women waits to board the bus. (Photo from IPPF/ CTO II Levi Evangelista)
The recently transferred PDLs will still undergo orientation, familiarization, and a checkup to see their health conditions. They will not be engaged yet in some reformation programs, such as agriculture-related activities, as they have to familiarize themselves first with their new area.
In the meantime, IPPF is not anticipating any arrivals before the year ends, following the recent batch of transferees. (RG/PIA Mimaropa-Palawan)