Saying it is high time for an increase, the Bureau of Corrections is urging lawmakers to increase the medical allowance for prisoners to at least P30, with BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. saying the current P15 allowance is simply not enough.
Catapang told the Senate finance committee during the hearing on the Justice Department’s proposed budget on Tuesday night that the BuCor is finding ways to solve the problem, including the effort of prisoners to plant herbs known to cure some illnesses.
‘We call it the Hardin ng Lunas. The prisoners are planting the necessary (herbal) medicines,’ Catapang said during the hearing.
He added that health issues caused by congestion in jails prompted the BuCor to transfer prisoners to facilities outside Metro Manila.
Catapang noted that BuCor has been decongesting its penal colonies since 2022.
The efforts resulted in reduced prisoner congestion – from 313 percent in 2022 to 243 percent this year.
Catapang admitted that 732 prisoners died under his watch, half of which were caused by congestion-related diseases.
The Global Prison Trends report, published by the Thailand Institute of Justice and EuroPris, named the Philippines as one of five countries in 2024 with prison occupancy levels operating between 300 and 600 percent of their maximum capacity.
The other listed countries were the Republic of Congo, Cambodia, Sao Tome and Principe and Uganda.
Aside from the medical allowance, Catapang asked Congress to pass a medical parole bill for prisoners aged 70 and above as well as those suffering from chronic illnesses.
‘We want to return them to their families so that they will be able to regain their camaraderie or whatever shortcomings that happened to their families,’ the BuCor chief said.