Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE PRACTICE OF PRISON MANAGEMENT AND 
DIRECTION 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
One important advancement in the country’s justice system is the paradigm shift from the punitive 
to the restorative and rehabilitative correctional system. Restorative justice emphasizes the need 
to treat persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with respect and allow them to reintegrate into the 
larger community. This requires jails to not just be places of detention and imprisonment, but 
also be a place of restoration and healing. The present conditions of our jails and detention 
centers do not allow for this. At present, the prison population is among the country’s most 
neglected sectors. Many detention centers in the Philippines fail to meet the minimum United 
Nations standards for such facilities, including inadequate amounts of food, poor nutrition, and 
unsanitary conditions.  
Improving prison conditions has always been a challenge for the Philippines. It requires a lot of 
resources and a high degree of professional skill and awareness of the concept of restorative 
justice among jail and correctional officers. Those who work in prisons should be capable of 
performing professionally and are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitude to perform 
their duties well and with respect for the rights and dignity of detainees. It is in this light that we 
propose this measure to professionalize our jail management and corrections administration by 
introducing qualifications for superintendents of prison in the national prison system and wardens 
of provincial or municipal jails. This will ensure that officials in control of the prison system are 
highly competent and fair-minded individuals who are capable of leading the system to a better 
and more humane path.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 16, 2022
1:08 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE PRACTICE OF PRISON MANAGEMENT AND 
DIRECTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
Assembled:  
Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Professionalization of Prison Management 
Act”.  
Sec. 2. Qualifications of Superintendents of Prisons in the National Prison System. – 
All Superintendents of Prisons or Colonies or Prison Farms of the National Prison System shall 
have the following qualifications at the time of their appointment: 
a) Holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Law, preferably a Member of the Philippine Bar; or a
Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, or its equivalent with at least twelve (12) units
in Psychology or Sociology;
b) Training and experience of at least five (5) years in corrections and prison management;
and
c) Of good moral character with a reputation in the community for probity and fair-
mindedness and who has never been convicted of a criminal offense nor charged
administratively for an act involving moral turpitude.
Sec. 3. Qualifications of Wardens of Provincial City or Municipal Jails. – All wardens of 
Provincial, City, or Municipal Jails shall have the following qualifications; 
a) Holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Law, Public Administration, Psychology or its equivalent,
with at least twelve (12) units in Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, or Psychology;
b) Training and experience of at least three (3) years in corrections and prison management;
and
c) Of good moral character with a reputation in the community for probity and fair-
mindedness and who has never been convicted of a criminal offense nor charged
administratively.
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Sec. 4. Jail Management and Correction Administration Training. – The Integrated 
National Police and/or the National Police Academy shall conduct courses and seminars on Jail 
Management and correction administration for nominees and incumbents of Prison 
Superintendent or Jail Warden Positions. Incumbent Superintendents and Wardens shall be 
required to pass courses in jail management and corrections administration to retain their 
positions.  
 
When feasible, Superintendents and Wardens shall be sent for training abroad in jail management 
and corrections administration.  
 
Sec. 5. Equivalence of Position, Rank, Salary, and Privileges. – Superintendents of the 
National Prison System shall enjoy in position, rank, salary, and privileges of an Assistant Bureau 
Director, provincial, city and municipal jail wardens shall enjoy the position, rank, salary, and 
privileges of a Division Head of a Bureau: Provided, that said Superintendents or Wardens shall 
have the qualifications herein set forth: Provided, further, the incumbents shall have to first 
qualify for the requirement of the position herein set forth before they can enjoy the position, 
rank, salary, privileges herein set forth: Provided, finally, that said incumbents shall continue to 
discharge the duties of Superintendent or Warden until reassigned, retired or separated from 
office, or otherwise replaced by the appointing authority by a qualified official. 
  
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. – Any provision of law, presidential decree, executive order, rule, or 
regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect upon approval and completion of its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,