NBP’s transfer to Ecija OK’d

MALOLOS, Philippines – The regional development council of Central Luzon has granted the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to relocate the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and the Correctional Institution for Women to Laur in Nueva Ecija.

The council, headed by Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, approved DOJ’s request during last Friday’s meeting at the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office 3 in San Fernando, Pampanga.

DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said the project aims to decongest the NBP, which has over 20,000 prisoners.

The project, which is under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, includes the construction of a modern prison facility on a 500-hectare property in Laur.

“It is the first major PPP project of DOJ and the Bureau of Corrections and also the first of its kind in the country,” De Lima said.

She said a bidding for the project would be conducted in September. The facility is expected to be completed within three years.