The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Corrections, recently signed a memorandum of agreement that will allow for the development and rehabilitation of arable land within the BuCor's prison reservations and penal farms in the country. The agreement was signed by BuCor Director General Greg Catapang Jr. and BPI Director Glenn Panganiban on August 18, 2023.

The MOA was signed by BuCor Director General Greg Catapang Jr. '84 on behalf of the DOJ and BPI Director Glenn Panganiban '97 on behalf of the DA on August 18, 2023

The MOA covers the joint project of the DA, through the BPI, DOJ and the BuCor in support of a sustainable environment for food production amidst the current challenges in food security within the prison system and to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). The project falls under the Work and Livelihood Program of the BuCor, otherwise known as the DA X DOJ Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security or the DA x DOJ RISE Project.

The program will be piloted at the Iwahig Prison in Penal Farm in Iwahig, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Iwahig is one of the seven operating units of the BuCor with an area of 28,785 hectares.

According to the project briefing material, the BuCor will convert idle lands to agricultural production areas in order to augment food production on its existing agricultural lands. Food production centers will also be developed which will include post-harvest equipment and facilities.

Present during the signing were Nelson Devanadara ‘72. Mike Asuncion ‘90, Paulo Devanadera ‘98 and Carl Gapasin 2021.

Photos courtesy of Carl Gapasin 2021