A P90-million agricultural camp for children in conflict with the law (CICL) will soon rise at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Friday, May 9.
“The agricultural camp will provide a structured and ecologically sustainable environment where intervention programs such as formal education, vocational and agricultural training, psychosocial support, and life skills development will be implemented under the careful supervision of the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” said BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr.
The camp “is envisioned as a pioneering rehabilitation and reintegration facility aligned with Section 15 of Republic Act No. 9344, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA), as amended,” Catapang also said.
“The facility offers an alternative to incarceration, allowing CICLs who are found guilty to serve their sentence in an agricultural or vocational training setting rather than confinement in a regular penal institution,” he added.
Catapang attended the ground breaking ceremony last Wednesday, May 7, at the IPPF’s Inagawan Sub-Colony where the camp would be constructed.
Also in attendance were DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, the BuCor said.
Last February, the DSWD signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the BuCor and DPWH for the building of the agricultural camp for CICLs.
Under the agreement, the BuCor said “the DSWD as the lead government agency in social protection, welfare, and development will provide funds for the project while the BuCor will operate, maintain supervise, and control the agricultural camp dedicated for CICL, and the DPWH will be responsible for the construction work for the project.”
“The P90-million AgriCamp is expected to be completed by early 2026,” it added.