SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga—The Regional Development Council has approved the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to relocate the National Penitentiary from Muntinglupa to Laur, Nueva Ecija, a top official said.
Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said the relocation of the New Bilibid Prison was among the 23 resolutions approved by the RDC during its meeting here before the weekend.
“All is good. This is a clear manifestation that the provinces in Central Luzon are united in achieving sustainable development and progress, “Alvarado said.
DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said bidding on the project will start in September and construction of a modern prison with state-of-the-art facilities in a 500-hectare property in Laur will take three years.
De Lima told the RDC there was need to build a new prison to de-congest the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinglupa, which has deteriorated and no longer safe for prisoners.
“For so long a time, for so many decades, talaga pong neglected ang ating prisons at halos wala pong budget para diyan,” she said. “This project is a real long-term solution to all the ills that have been besetting the National Bilibid Prison all these decades.”
Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali said the people of Gen. Tinio were supportive of the project and “Nueva Ecija is willing to host and support the transfer of the National Bilibid Prison to the province for as long as it will not pose a risk to our people.”