Manila: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is requesting Congress to increase the daily medical allowance for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from PHP15 to PHP30 per individual.

According to Philippines News Agency, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. made this appeal to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, during a recent hearing focused on the proposed 2026 budget for the Department of Justice and its associated agencies. Catapang emphasized the importance of boosting the medical allowance to improve healthcare provisions within correctional facilities.

Additionally, Catapang discussed with Gatchalian a proposal for a medical parole bill. This bill aims to establish a system of medical parole for elderly PDLs, aged 70 and above, and those who are medically incapacitated. This proposal is rooted in humanitarian considerations and aligns with global best practices. Catapang highlighted that elderly PDLs with chronic illnesses have limited ability to care for themselves and pose minimal risks to public safety.

The proposed medical parole bill is expected to aid BuCor in addressing the overcrowding of prisons and penal farms across the nation. It also seeks to alleviate the strain on the prison system while recognizing and addressing the basic human rights of some of the most vulnerable inmates.