Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
    EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS is an agency under the Department of Justice 
that is charged with custody and rehabilitation of national offenders, that is, 
those sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of more than three (3) years. 
To carry out its mandate, the Bureau undertakes the following: 
•
Confine persons convicted by the courts to serve a sentence
in national prisons.
•
Keep prisoners from committing crimes while in custody.
•
Provide humane treatment by supplying the inmates' basic
needs and implementing a variety of rehabilitation programs
designed to change their pattern of criminal or anti-social
behavior.
•
Engage in agro-industrial projects for the purpose of
developing prison lands and resources into productive bases
or profit centers, developing and employing inmate manpower
skills and labor, providing prisoners with a source of income
and augmenting the Bureau's yearly appropriations.
This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Bureau of 
Corrections (BuCor), to ensure that the country fulfills its commitments to 
improve national prisons conducive to the reformation and rehabilitation of 
inmates that will bring them back into the mainstream of society as useful 
citizens of the country. 
October 5, 2022
1:53 pm
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Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE BUREAU 
OF CORRECTIONS (BUCOR), INCREASING AND REORGANIZING 
ITS ADMINISTRATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a declared 
policy of the State to promote the general welfare and safeguard the basic rights 
of every prisoner incarcerated in our national penitentiary. It also recognizes the 
responsibility of the State to strengthen government capability aimed towards 
the institutionalization of highly efficient and competent correctional services. 
Moreso, the State shall provide for the modernization, professionalization and 
restructuring of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) by upgrading its facilities, 
increasing the number of its personnel, upgrading the level of qualifications of 
their personnel, and standardizing their base pay, retirement and other benefits, 
making it at par with that of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
(BJMP). 
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The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five Hundred 
Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and administration of the 
(BuCor) shall be chargeable against funds for the purpose and other sources 
recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). 
Thereafter, appropriations for the (BuCor) shall be included in the budget 
proposals under the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the (BuCor) in accordance with 
the provisions of this Act and relevant compensation and position classification 
laws, rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
(BuCor) MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby 
created the (BuCor) Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the (BuCor) 
Modernization Program. 
The (BuCor) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the 
DOJ in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and 
auditing rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of DOJ shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the (BuCor) 
Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 


and to the Chairpersons of the Committee on Justice of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the (BuCor) shall continue to develop, modernize 
and constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global 
practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The (BuCor) shall continue to 
exercise and uphold the following powers and functions; but not limited to: 
The BuCor shall be in charge of safekeeping and instituting reformation 
programs to national inmates sentenced to more than three (3) years. 
(a) Safekeeping of National Inmates – The safekeeping of inmates 
shall include decent provision of quarters, food, water and clothing 
in compliance with established United Nations standards. The 
security of the inmates shall be undertaken by the Custodial Force 
consisting of Corrections Officers with a ranking system and salary 
grades similar to its counterpart in the BJMP. 
(b) Reformation of National Inmates – The reformation programs, 
which will be instituted by the BuCor for the inmates, shall be the 
following: 
(1) Moral and Spiritual Program; 
(2) Education and Training Program; 
(3) Work and Livelihood Program; 


(4) Sports and Recreation Program; 
(5) Health and Welfare Program; and 
(6) Behavior Modification Program, to include Therapeutic 
Community. 
(c) The reformation programs shall be undertaken by Professional 
Reformation Personnel consisting of Corrections Technical Officers 
with ranking system and salary grades similar to Corrections 
Officers. 
(1) Corrections Technical Officers are personnel employed in 
the implementation of reformation programs and those 
personnel whose nature of work requires proximate or direct 
contact with inmates. 
(2) Corrections Technical Officers include priests, evangelists, 
pastors, 
teachers, 
instructors, 
professors, 
vocational 
placement 
officers, 
librarians, 
guidance 
counselors, 
physicians, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, 
dentists, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, 
social 
workers, 
engineers, 
electricians, 
agriculturists, 
veterinarians, lawyers and similar professional skills relevant 
to the implementation of inmate reformation programs. 
SECTION 
7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The BuCor shall 
maintain the custodial personnel-to-inmate ratio and reformation personnel-to-
inmate ratio. Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such ratio 
required and may continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of 
committed inmates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 


SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,