By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Wednesday directed the establishment of halfway houses in all operating prisons and penal farms (OPPFs) nationwide as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the reintegration program for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
The halfway houses will serve as temporary residences for individuals awaiting release, and are envisioned not only as transitional spaces but also as secure holding areas for released PDLs whose settlement arrangements are still pending.
In his memorandum addressed to OPPF superintendents and external affair sections or units, Catapang underscored the importance of a comprehensive program for PDLs within the halfway houses.
The program will include counseling sessions, orientation activities, interviews, and short courses designed to equip PDLs with the skills and knowledge they need for life after incarceration.
“This holistic approach recognizes that preparing individuals for reintegration involves more than simply setting them free but it requires equipping them with the tools to navigate societal challenges effectively,” Catapang said.
He ordered the concerned officers for the submission of detailed plans and designs for each halfway house, alongside clear budgetary requirements.
While the project is being planned and funded, the concerned officials are also directed to identify a suitable area where PDL about to be released shall be temporarily housed to separate them from the general PDL population, and focus on reintegration programs intended for them.
They are likewise ordered to be guided by the technical description provided in the revised implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 10575, otherwise known as the BuCor Modernization Act of 2013. (PNA)
