By Benjamin Pulta/PNA
MANILA — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday clarified that there is no final decision yet on the transfer of the overpopulated New Bilibid Prison facility in Muntinlupa City to another site.
In a message to newsmen, Guevarra said he will also look into reports that utilities used by residents in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) have been cut off after a two-week notice to vacate was handed down by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Nicanor Faeldon.
“No final decision yet on transfer of NBP and possible new location. There are at least three options under consideration. (We) will check on reported cutting off of utilities,” Guevarra told reporters.
Mixed-use projects for its 366.7 hectares of land in Muntinlupa are being opposed by critics of the plan who are residents of the planned demolition sites in Makabuhay, Mapalad, Magnetic, Magdaong, Promise Land and Old Compound areas.
Earlier plans were made for the transfer of the facility to Laur, Nueva Ecija under the BuCor Modernization Act. The transfer of the NBP to Nueva Ecija, which has an estimated budget of PHP50 billion.
The proposed regional penitentiary includes a plan to put up a 15-kilometer road network and six concrete bridges.
The road network was originally planned to extend to Palayan City.
