A.

INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Corrections is a government agency under the Department of

Justice. It is charged with the custody and rehabilitation of national offenders, who have

been sentenced to three years of imprisonment or more. The agency has its headquarters

in the New Bilibid Prison Reservation in Muntinlupa City. At present, BuCor have seven

(7) operating units nationwide, namely: Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in

Mandaluyong / and The CIW Mindanao, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte; New Bilibid

Prison in Muntinlupa which consists of Maximum Security Compound, Minimum

Security Compound, and Medium Security Compound; Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm

in Occidental Mindoro; Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan;

Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte; San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in

Zamboanga City, and; Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del

Norte

The Bureau of Corrections is guided by our State Policy promoting the general

welfare and safeguarding the basic rights of every prisoner incarcerated in our national

penitentiary by promoting and ensuring their reformation and social reintegration.

In this research project, the researchers will discuss how the Bureau of

Corrections operates and what and how they implement various programs for the

inmates.

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B. THE FRAMEWORK

The major procedures of operation in BuCor through the prescribed organizational

structure underscore a systematic workflow as provided for in Republic Act

10575 “The Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013” is described in the following:

B.1 General Process. The BuCor shall operate with a directorial structure. It shall

undertake reception of inmates through its Directorate for Reception and

Diagnostics (DRD), formerly Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC), provide

their basic needs and security through its Security and Operations Directorates,

administer their reformation programs through its Reformation Directorates, and

prepare inmates for reintegration to mainstream society through its Directorate

for External Relations (DER), formerly External Relations Division (ERD).

B.2 Reception and Diagnostics. Hereunder are the Basic Procedures for Reception and

Diagnostics for new inmates.

B.2.1 Reception. Committed inmates shall be admitted to BuCor through DRD in the

following institutional procedure:

Admission of Prisoners. The BuCor, through its penal establishments, shall

receive prisoners from competent authority upon presentation of the following

documents:

 Mittimus/Commitment Order of the Court,

 Information and Court Decision in the case,

 Certification of Detention,

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  Certification of No Pending Case,

 Certification of Non-Appeal, and

 Provincial Form 35 / Inmate data sheet

A female offender shall be received only at the Correctional Institution for Women.

All prisons and penal farms are also authorized to receive directly from courts convicted

prisoners in consonance with the Supreme Court Circular No. 63-97 dated

October 6, 1997.

B.2.2 Diagnostics. The DRD shall likewise be responsible for the conduct of

classification of each and every inmate admitted to the BuCor. Inmates shall be

classified according to security risk and sentence. Included in the classification

are determining an inmate’s certain:

1) Interests, skills or talents;

2) Physical, mental, spiritual, psychological evaluation; and

3) Social (socio-demographic), and other behavioral-trait assessments.

The core diagnostics objective is to determine an inmate’s “Reformability.” These

classification activities shall serve as reference of the DRD in the preparation of

individual inmate reformation treatment programs and inmate-group reformation

treatment programs.

B.3. Segregation Scheme. Aside from those borne of the provisions under Rule 8, Part I

Rules of General Application of the UNSMRTP and that of the existing

regulation of the BuCor on security classification (i.e. maximum, medium and

minimum security risk), inmates shall also be internally classified by the DRD

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 and segregated according to crimes committed based on the related penal codes

such as Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Properties, Crimes Against

Chastity, so on and so forth, as well as by other related Special Laws, Customs

Laws and Immigration Laws. This is to ensure that an inmate will not be

susceptible to acquire other criminal skills brought about by his exposure with

other inmates who are committed to BuCor for different crimes or offenses,

which normally happens in the present prison setup.

B.4. Security and Reformation. From the DRD, the Custodial Force and Reformation

Personnel of respective security institutions/camps shall be in charge for the

security and the implementation of the recommended individual inmate

reformation treatment program and the inmate-group reformation treatment

program of each and every inmate while serving sentence, respectively.

B.5. Pre-Release and Post-Release Programs. The Directorate for External Relations

(DER) shall be responsible for pre-release and post-release programs of inmates

due for release. The DER shall also evaluate, classify and apply necessary

reformation programs to inmates for readiness to join the mainstream society

upon release, as part of the pre-release program. The inmate readiness programs

are customized towards their specialization in the areas of educational growth,

livelihood entrepreneurship, sports engagement, religious practice, and

appropriate medical treatment. This specialization is intended for the continuous

practice of inmates in these areas in the free society through linkages, liaison,

and coordination efforts undertaken by DER with the appropriate

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 agencies/institutions participating in Post-Release Programs such as government

or private schools, churches, health centers, government or private hospitals, and

local government units. The DER shall also classify inmates according to

professional, technical and vocational skills acquired for referral and

endorsement to appropriate companies or corporations participating in BuCor

On-The-Job Training and Skills Development Programs for newly reformed

inmates. The conduct of post release programs by DER includes monitoring and

evaluation of performance of released inmates on their specialized areas among

the participating agencies/institutions in the free society to assess the

effectiveness and applicability of reformation programs institutionalized by

BuCor.

In order to fully implement a successful reintegration of released inmates to the

community, the following circumferential objectives are to be focused upon by

DER, to wit:

1) Secure support from family and community prior to release period; and

2) Secure acceptance from family and community upon release.

These shall facilitate the achievement of the core reintegration objectives, which are

aimed at the a) restoration of civil identity by society upon restoration of civil

rights by law, and b) re-establishment of lost personal identity as law-abiding

citizen in the free society. The personnel of DER shall perform diagnostics

functions to classify inmates for the application of appropriate pre-release and

post-release programs. Administration of pre-release programs by DER shall be

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 assisted by reformation officers. Post release programs shall be performed solely

by DER personnel.

Throughout the course, from DRD to the Custodial Force and Reformation Personnel,

and finally to DER, inmates of BuCor are continuously accorded with the proper

safekeeping.

B.6. Administration. Apart from handling inmates, the BuCor shall administratively

operate like a standard government agency through its Administrative

Directorates with internal control and internal audit units. It shall conduct its

planning and management through its Directorate for Planning and Management,

conduct personnel recruitment and welfare development through its Directorate

for Personnel and Human Resource Development, conduct budgeting and

accounting through its Directorate for Comptrollership, conduct facility and

equipment maintenance and other engineering services through its Directorate

for Engineering Services, and conduct procurement process through its

Directorate for Logistics. These directorates are assisted by support service

group such as Legal Service, Training Service, Public Affairs Service,

Information and Communications Technology Service, Finance Service,

Reservation Security-Safety-and-Cleanliness Service, Health Services, and

Logistics Support Service. For effective and timely discharge of duties, all

BuCor Directorates shall have a commensurate distribution of the following

administrative personnel: admin officer, budget officer, supply officer, finance

officer, liaison officer, planning officer, record officer, monitoring officer,

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 statistician, performance evaluator, and message center officer. They shall have a

prescribed mandatory rotational assignments among the clusters of directorates on

Security and Safekeeping, Reformation, and Administration.

B.7. Computerization. The BuCor, through the Directorate for Inmate Documents and

Records and Directorate for Personnel shall employ full computerization system.

Inmate Records. Computerization shall be developed in the build-up, maintenance and

transmittal of necessary inmate records to all its Prison and Penal Farms and

other recipient agencies (i.e. Board of Pardons and Parole, Office of the

President). This shall also facilitate the immediate processing of records for

timely release of inmates. This shall be done through development of needed

information system, network infrastructure, internet connectivity, procurement of

hardware and software and creation of Information Technology (IT) positions.

The system shall efficiently monitor inmates as well as provide decision support

system that will help in determining the needed reformation programs and for the

timely transmittal of inmate’s record to the Board of Pardons and Parole for

those who are eligible for early release.

Personnel Records. Computerization shall be developed for Personnel Accounting and

Information System (PAIS), which shall record the a. Recruitment and Selection,

b. Training and Development, c. Employment and Reassignment, d. Performance

Evaluation, e. Promotion and Servicing, and f. Attrition of uniformed personnel

of BuCor.

B.8. Classification. Inmates shall undergo on the following classification upon

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 admission up to their release:

 Pre-Admission Classification at DRD,

 Re-Classification for Reformation Programs while serving sentence,

 Pre-Release Classification at DER,

 Security Classification while serving sentence (by length of sentence and by

crimes committed), and

 Safekeeping Classification while serving sentence (by health condition, age

bracket, and gender).

B.9. Inspection. Admin technical officers are duty bound to conduct ocular inspection

inside security camps on a regular basis such as monthly, quarterly, semi-

annually, and annually, to monitor the actual deployment of administrative effects

(facilities, equipment, supplies, and personnel) in terms of authorized quantity,

quality and utilization. Likewise, engineering technical officers shall conduct

regular inspection to monitor the functional and serviceable conditions of prison

facilities, vehicles and equipment. Medical technical officers, on the other hand,

shall conduct regular inspection pertaining to: 1) the quantity, quality, preparation

and service of food; 2) the hygiene and cleanliness of prisoners; 3) the sanitation,

heating, ventilation of the institution; and 4) the suitability and cleanliness of the

prisoner’s clothing and bedding. The Director General shall take into

consideration the reports and advice that the medical officer submits and, upon his

evaluation, shall take immediate steps to give effect to those recommendations.

B.10. Gender Sensitivity Program. Gender concerns should be addressed in all

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 planning activities, setting of priorities, allocating of resources and identifying

actions and activities of the BuCor. It should also incorporate a gender sensitive

perspective in the implementation of such plans and programs.

Gender sensitivity shall also be employed in all its internal policies, strategies, budget,

projects, structures and mechanisms, including but not limited to hiring,

promotions, assignment, training opportunities, pay and benefits. A gender

perspective should likewise be integrated in all its training programs. The BuCor,

in accordance with existing laws shall provide appropriate funds to effectively

implement Gender and Development programs, activities and projects: Provided,

That no such funds shall be taken from the appropriations for inmates’ monthly

operating and other expenses (MOOE) and inmates’ capital outlay (CO).

C. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

C.1 Work and Livelihood

This refers to the administration of skills development programs on work and

livelihood to achieve self-sufficiency of inmates in the prison community and for income

generation of the agency. This shall be institutionalized by the Directorate for Work and

Livelihood (DWL). Volunteer participating agencies, Non-Government Organizations

and individuals shall be regulated and managed by DWL.

The Bureau offers a variety of inmate work programs, from agricultural to

industrial. The purpose of the inmate work program is to keep the inmates busy and to

provide the money for their personal expenses and their families as well as help them

acquire livelihood skills, in order that they may become productive citizens once they are

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released and assimilated back into the mainstream of society.

Different prison and penal farms provide institutional work programs for inmates.

At the Davao Penal Colony, inmates work on the banana plantation of Tagum

Development Company (TADECO) which has a joint venture agreement with the

Bureau. Strictly, the vast tracts of land at the Iwahig Penal Colony are developed and

tilled by inmates to produce various agricultural products, thereby generating income for

the Bureau. The Sablayan Prison and Penal farm also provide agriculture and aquaculture

programs for inmates.

To this end, the Bureau under the present Director has encouraged agricultural

and industrial production by providing farming implements, tractors, fertilizers and other

inputs in order to sustain this area of rehabilitation for inmates.

C.2. Moral and Spiritual Program

This refers to the moral and spiritual values-formation of inmates which shall be

institutionalized by the Directorate for Moral and Spiritual Welfare (DMSW), which

include the practice of one’s religion and beliefs. Participating Religious Volunteer

Organizations (RVO) and individuals shall be regulated and managed by DMSW.

Inmates enjoy freedom of religion. All inmates are free to observe the rituals of

their faith, with orderly conduct supervised by prison authorities. A religious guidance

advise or chaplain is assigned in every prison and penal farm. The prison chaplain sets

the stage for every regular spiritual activity. He is an officer of the institution who

oversees the operation of the prison chapel. He is not only the spiritual leader but also a

counselor and adviser.

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 Prisoners may be baptized pr given other sacraments. Religious Volunteer

Officers or RVOs belonging to different church groups provide weekly religious

activities ranging from bible studies, devotions, prayer meetings or praise and worship.

With a predominantly Roman Catholic prison population, a Catholic Mass is a regular

feature in spiritual activities of the prison communities. Restrictions, however, are

imposed if, in the course of religious activities, security is compromised or a program is

to expensive.

C.3. Sports and recreation

This refers to the administration of physical and recreational engagement to

achieve mental alertness and physical agility in the spirit of sportsmanship. This shall be

institutionalized by the Directorate for Sports and Recreation (DSR). Volunteer

participating agencies, Non-Government Organizations and individuals shall be regulated

and managed by DSR. The inmates enjoy sunrise by participating in daily calisthenics.

There are various indoor and outdoor sport activities, programs, tournaments, and leagues

all year round, including basketball, volleyball, billiards, table tennis, and chess. These

sports competitions promote camaraderie among inmates, good sportsmanship, and team-

building. The latest addition is the newly constructed indoor sports center/gymnasium at

the Maximum Security Compound which boasts of competition-standard flooring, sound

system, locker rooms, and bleachers.

All prison and penal farms have adequate recreational facilities for inmates, both

for outdoor and indoor sports. Mini-bodybuilding gyms are available in most prison

facilities, including Muntinlupa Juvenile Training Center and the Therapeutic

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Community Center for inmates with drug cases.

For music lovers and musically-inclined inmates, numerous “videoke” centers are

available. Musical instruments are available for practice or for use in variety shows.

C.4. Education and Skills Training

This refers to the administration of formal and non-formal education, and skills

development of inmates which shall be institutionalized by the Directorate for Education

and Training (DET). Participating volunteer teachers, professors, instructors, and trainers

shall be regulated and managed by DET.

Rehabilitation can be facilitated by improving an inmate’s academic and job

skills. Records show that many prisoners are poorly educated. A majority are elementary

school dropouts or have not even finished primary school. Prison education amounts to

remedial schooling designed to prepare inmates to obtain basic skills in reading, writing

and mathematics.

In most correctional facilities, vocational programs are incorporated into job

assignments and serves as on-the-job training. The goal is to provide inmates with skills

that will improve their eligibility for jobs upon release. Most prison vocational trainings

is geared toward traditional blue-collar employment in areas such as electronics, auto

mechanics, and handicrafts. At the Reception and Diagnostic Center, a basic computer

literacy course with typing as a support course is available for inmates who have finished

at least high school level.

Vocational training and social education focus on job readiness. The concern in

these areas is life skills. If inmates are to renter society and abstain from criminal activity,

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they must be employable and have the basic tools necessary to function as responsible

citizens.

The National Penitentiary has a college degree program and tertiary degree

correspondence course, in addition to the regular secondary and compulsory basic

literacy classes. Prisoners are strongly encouraged by the BuCor authorities to enroll

while serving their sentence and to advance their academic skills.

C.5 Healthcare services

This refers to the administration of proper nutrition, hygiene, sanitation,

cleanliness and promotion of good health to inmates. This also includes appropriate

provision of medical care or hospitalization of the sick, mentally impaired, old aged, and

disabled inmates. This shall be institutionalized by the Directorate for Health and Welfare

Services (DHWS). Volunteer participating agencies, Non-Government Organizations and

individuals shall be regulated and managed by DHWS.

Upon his initial commitment to the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC), the

inmate’s medical history is recorded and properly documented by the Medical Specialist.

Medical information and mental status examinations are given to ascertain his overall

physical/mental fitness and whether he would be fit for work. This forms part of the

diagnostic process which will eventually determine the most appropriate rehabilitation

program for the inmate.

The principal medical care of inmates is provided through a 500-bed capacity

hospital at the New Bilibid Prisons and at six (6) other mini-hospitals or clinics in the six

(6) other prison and penal farms. All correctional facilities have a full and competent staff

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of medical practitioners in charge of clinics, infirmaries, and hospitals. These centers are

capable of minor surgical operations, laboratory examinations, radiology, psychiatric,

rehabilitation, and dental treatment.

Other government and private hospitals are also tapped in the implementation of

standards pertaining to nutrition and protective health services for the prison community.

Medical services also include a wide range of counseling techniques and therapy

programs that address the psychological problems of inmates, including suicidal thoughts

and feelings of rejection which may lead to disruption of peace and order within the

prison compounds. When an inmate’s ailment is beyond the competence of the in-house

medical doctors, the inmate is referred to a government hospital in accordance with

prison rules and under proper security escorts.

C.6 Therapeutic Community

The Therapeutic Community (TC) Program represents an effective, highly

structures environment with defined boundaries, both moral and ethical. The primary

goal is to foster personal growth. This is accomplished by reshaping an individual’s

behavior and attitudes through the inmate’s community working together to help

themselves and each other, restoring self-confidence, and preparing them for their re-

integration into their families and friends as productive members of the community.

Patterned after Daytop TC, New York which is the base of the Therapeutic

Community movement in the world, the BuCor TC program was adopted as part of the

Bureau’s holistic approach towards inmate rehabilitation. It is implemented primarily but

not limited to drug dependents.

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 The TC approach has been continuously proven worldwide as an effective

treatment and rehabilitation modality among drug dependents, and has been noted to be

effective in many prisons. By immersing a drug offender in the TC environment, he

learns why he had developed his destructive habits, which led him to substance abuse.

The program modifies negative behavior and or attitudes while restoring self-confidence,

and prepares inmates for their reintegration into their families and friend as productive

members of the community. This behavioral modification program gradually re-shapes or

re-structures the inmate within a family-like environment, wherein every member acts as

his brother’s keeper.

As TC family members go on with their daily activities, a strong sense of

responsibility and concern for each other’s welfare are developed. They are constantly

being monitored for their progress and are regularly being evaluated by the TC-trained

staff. The TC Process allows for genuine introspection, cultivation of self-worth, and

positive rationalization that move the individual towards assuming a great sense of

personal and moral responsibility.

The efforts of the Bureau of Corrections to rehabilitate Drug dependents under its

care using the TC approach are in line with its commitment to creating a Drug-Free

Prison. Worldwide developments in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug offenders

using this therapeutic community approach have been noted to be effective in many

prisons.

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 C. SUMMARY

Various programs are in place to address the rehabilitation aspect in corrections.

Rehabilitation in correctional work is done through a combination of programs that

involves spiritual activities, educational courses (formal and informal), medical and

hygienic practices, cultural and recreational activities, productive work, counseling,

therapeutic and disciplinary measures. After the basic needs of an inmate are met, the

formal rehabilitation process involves the following institutionalized programs such as

Inmate Work program, health care, education and skills training, recreation and sports,

religious guidance and behavior modification using the therapeutic community approach.

The core objective in the administration of these circumferential reformation programs is

the effective treatment of anti-social behavior and destructive personality disorders of an

inmate.

D. CONCLUSIONS

The Bureau of Correction has undertake rehabilitation programs to help an inmate

lead a responsible, law abiding and productive life upon release. Efforts shall be made to

ensure an optimum balance between the security of the prison and the effectiveness of

treatment programs. Inmate and public safety, and the requirements for effective custody,

shall, however, take precedence over all other activities at all times and shall not be

compromised. Rehabilitation and treatment programs focus on providing services that

will encourage and enhance the inmate’s self-respect, self-confidence, personal dignity

and sense of responsibility. Corrective and rehabilitation services include religious

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guidance; psychotherapy; socialization; health and sanitation; vocational training; mental,

physical and sports development; and value formation and education. Occupational and

vocational training programs are based on the needs of the inmates, general labor market

conditions, and institution labor force needs. The Bureau also facilitates post-secondary

education in vocational and occupationally-oriented areas. Recreation and wellness

activities encourage healthy life styles and habits. Institution libraries carry a variety of

fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, newspapers, and reference materials.

The inmates at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm work at the TADECO plantation

and receive minimum wage for their efforts. They use their earnings to support various

personal needs and income-generating activities. The prisoners are encouraged to engage

in livelihood programs particularly in handicrafts in order for them to have additional

source of income. The inmates are also given value formation and moral building

activities through the educational and religious program of the bureau. Such activities

help them to realize what they have gone through and prepare them to become better

individuals and re-born members of the society, eventually. The visiting and recreational

program further helps them to get an atmosphere of the world beyond the confines of the

penal farm. It actually prevents the inmates in developing a feeling of isolation which

might even lead to depression. The bureau ensures that while the prisoners are serving

their punishment for their respective offenses they would not be futile and that there is

always room for change and development. In such case, they retain their identities and

make their families feel that they still exist and could even afford to support the latter

though they are in prison.

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 E. RECOMMENDATIONS

The Bureau of Corrections shall continue to implement the rehabilitation

programs as enumerated in the IRR of “The Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013.” It is

recommended that they develop and come up with other innovative and significant

programs and activities to further raise the effectiveness of the rehabilitation programs.

F. REFERENCES

Alvor, M.B.B. The Philippine Corrections System: Current Situation and Issues
https://www.unafei.or.jp/publications/pdf/RS_No67/No67_09PA_Alvor.pdf

de Leon, G. (2000). The Therapautic Community: Theory, Model and Method.

Springer Publisher Co.

Eboña, F. (2018). BuCor History and Programs,

https://www.scribd.com/document/389112234/Bucor-History-and-Programs

Republic Act 10575 “An Act Strengthening the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
and providing funds therefor
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10575_2013.html

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