H. No.

6887
S No. 3335
~l'uhlir of f4e J4ilil'l'ines
QInU£tt55 nf tqt JIqilip:p:iUt5
2ill!efro2ill!ltuillt
Jlfiffeenf4 i!Iougresz

W:4idt ~gulltr~ezzirrn

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third

day of July, two thousand twelve.

[REPUBLIC ACT No.1 0 5 7 5 ]

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS
(BUCOR) AND PROVIDING FUNDS TI-IEREPOR

Be it enacted by the Sen ale and House of Representatives of the

Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION l. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as

"The Bureau of Corrections Act of2013".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the 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.
Towards this end, 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).
 2

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -

(a) Safekeeping, which is the custodial component of the
BuCor's present corrections system, shall refer to the act that
ensures the public (mcluding families of inmates and their victims)
that national inmates are provided with their basic needs,
completely incapacitated from further committing criminal acts,
and have been totally cut off from their criminal networks (or
contacts in the free society) while serving sentence inside the
premises of the national penitentiary. This act also includes
protection against illegal organized armed groups which have
the capacity of launching an attack on any prison camp of the
national penitentiary to rescue their convicted comrade or to
forcibly amass firearms issued to prison guards.
(b) Reformation, which is the rehabilitation component of
the BuCor's present corrections system, shall refer to the acts
which ensure the public (including families of inmates and their
victims) that released national inmates are no longer harmful to
the community by becoming reformed individuals prepared to
live a normal and productive life upon reintegration to the
mainstream society.
SEC. 4. The Mandates of the Bu,reau of Corrections. -
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;
 3

(5) Health and Welfare Program; and

(6) Behavior Modification Program, to mclude 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 Off,cers.
(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 Techmcal 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 lIllplementation of inmate reformation programs.
SEC. 5. Operat.wns of the Bureau of Corrections. - (a)
The BuCor shall operate with a directorial structure. It shall
undertake reception of inmates through its Directorate for
Reception and DIagnostics (DRD), formerly Reception and
Diagnostic Center (RDC), provide basic needs and security through
its Security and Operations Directorates, administer reformation
programs through its Reformation Directorates, and prepare
inmates for reintegration to mainstream society through its
Directorate for External Relations (DER), formerly External
Relations Division (ERD).
(b) The DRD shall be responsible for the conduct of
classifIcation of each and every inmate admitted to the BuCor.
Inmates shall be classified according to security risk and sentence.
Included in the classification is determining inmate's certain skills
or talents, physical, spiritual, social, mental and psychological
evaluation and other behavioral assessments, as reference ofthe
DRD in the preparation of individual inmate reformation programs.

(c) Aside from those borne ofthe provisions under Rule 8,

Part T, Rules of General Application of the United Nations Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and that of the
 4

existing regulation of the BuCor on security classification (i.e.

maximum, medium and minimum security risk), inmates shall
also be internally classified by the DRD and segregated according
to crimes committed based on the related penal codes such as
Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Properties, Crimes
Against Chastity, so on and so forth, as well as by other r~lated
Special Laws, Custom and Immigration Laws. '

(d) From the DRD, the Custodial Force and Reformation

Personnel of respective security institutions/camps shall be in
charge for the security and the implementation of the
recommended inmate reformation program of each and every
inmate while serving sentence, respectively.

(e) The Directorate for External Relations (DER) sHall be

responsible for pre-release and post-release programs ofinfuatcs
due for release. The DER shall also classify inmates accordl.ng to
skills acquired for referral and endorsement to appropriate
companies or corporations participating in the BuGor
On-The-Job Training Programs for newly reformed inmates. The
DER shall also evaluate, classify and apply necessary programs
to inmates for readiness to join the mainstream society ,upon
release. i

(f) Apart from handling inmates, the BuCor khall

administratively operate like a standard government agency
through its Administrative Directorates with internal control and
internal audit units.

(g) The BuCor shall employ full computerization in the

build-up, maintenance and transmittal of necessary in)nate
records to all its Prison and Penal Farms and other recipient
agencies (i.e. Board of Pardons and Parole). i

SEC. 6. Lands of the Bureau of Corrections. - (a) Aside

from administrative purposes, all BuCor lands shall be used for
inmate security, reformation programs and as a means to promote
sustainability, both for income and non-income generating
programs, with or without partnership among nongovernment
organizations, civic organizations or other government entities.
 5

(b) As a way to maximize its assets' value for the effective

and extensive reformation (corrections) programs for national
inmates, the RuCor shall have the absolute authority to design,
formulate and implement land-use development plans and policies.
(c) The RuCor may propose additional penal farms as may
be necessary as possible, aSIde from its existing seven (7) prison and
penal farms to decongest existing penal institutions and accommodate
the increasmg number of inmates committed to the agency.
(d) All RuCor lands shall have a CertIficate of Title
registered under its name.
SEC. 7. Facilities of the Bureau of Corrections. - The
RuCor shall operate with standard and uniform design of prison
facilities, reformation facilities and administrative facilities, through
all the operating prison and penal farms, such as the following:
(a) Dormitory;
(b) Administration building;
(c) Perimeter/Security fences;
(d) Hospital/lnfirmary;
(e) RecreationIMultipurpose hall;
(£) Training/Lecture center;
(g) Workshop facility;
(h) Mess halllkitchen;

(i) Visiting area;

(j) Water tank and pump;

(k) Reception and diagnostic center; and

(1) Service personnel facilities.

SEC. 8. Supervision of the Bureau of Corrections. - The
Department of Justice (DOJ), havmg the RuCor as a line bureau
and a constituent unit, shall maintain a relationship of administrative
supervision with the latter as defined under Seetlon 38(2), Chapter
7, Rook IV of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987),
except that the DOJ shall retain authority over the power to review,
 6

reverse, revise or modify the decisions of the BuCorin the exercise of

its regulatory or quasi-judicial functions.
SEC. 9. Organization and Key Positions of the Eureau of
Corrections. - (a) The BuCor shall be headed by a Director who
shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Directors: one (1) for
administration, one (1) for security and operations and one (1) for
reformation, all of whom shall be appointsd by the President upon
the recommendation ofthe Secretary of the DOJ: Provided, That
the Director and the Deputy Directors of the BuCor shall serve a
tour of duty not to exceed six (6) years from the date of appointment:
Provided, further, That in times of war or other national eniergency
declared by Congress, the President may extend such tour of duty.
(b) The Head of the BuCor, with the rank of
Undersecretary, shall have the position and title of Director
General of Corrections. The second officers in command of the
BuCor, with the rank of Assistant Secretary, shall have the position
and title of Deputy Directors of Corrections. The third officer in
command of the BuCor, with the rank ofChiefSuperinl'endent, .
shall have the position and title of Correction~ Chief
Superintendent. The fourth officer in command of th~ BuCor,
with the rank of Senior Superintendent, shall have the position
and title of Corrections Senior Superintendent. The fifth officer
in command of the BuCor, with the rank of Superintendent, shall
have the position and title of Corrections Superintendent.
(c) The Department ofBudget and Management (DBM) shall
rationalize the existing organizational structure and staffinlf pattern
of the BuCorin accordance with the provisions ofthisActand:relevant
compensation and position classification laws, rules and reg)llations.
i
SEC. 10. Increase of Personnel. - The BuCOr shall
maintain the custodial personnel-to-inmate ratio of 1:7 and
reformation personnel-to-inmate ratio of 1:24. Hence, it is
authorized to increase its manpower to meet such ratio and may
continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of
committed inmates annually or as the need arises.
SEC. 11. Professionalization and Upgrad'ing of ,

Qualification Standards in the Appointment of thei BuCor

Personnel. - (a) No person shall be appointed as pers9nnel of-
the BuCor unless one possesses the following minimum
qualifications:
 7

(1) A citizen ofthe Republic ofthe Philippines;

(2) A person of good moral character;
(3) Must have passed the psychiatric/psychological, drug
and physICal test for the purpose of determining his/her physical
and mental health;
(4) Must possess a baccalaureate degree from a recognized
learning Institution;
(5) Must possess the appropnate ciVll serVICe eligibIlity;
(6) Must not have been dishonorably discharged or
dismissed for cause from previous employment;
(7) Must not have been convicted by fmalJudgment of an
offense or crime involving moral turpitude; and
(8) Must be at least one meter and SIxty-two centimeters
(1.62 m.) in heIght for male, and one meter and fifty-seven
centimeters (1.57 ill.) for female: Provided, That a waiver for
height and age requirementis may be granted to applicants
belonging to the cultural communities: Provided, further, That
a new applicant must not be less than twenty-one (21) or more
than forty (40) years of age. Except for this particular provision,
the above-enumerated qualif,cations shall be continuing in
character and an absence of anyone of them at any given t.ime
shall be ground for separation or retirement from the service:
Provided, furthermore, That those who are already in the service
upon the effectivity of this Act shall be gIven f,ve (5) years from
the date of such effectivity to obtain the minimum educational
qualification and eligibility with subsidiary aSSIstance as provided
for in this Act.
(b) After the lapse of the period for the satiSfactIOn of a
specific requirement, incumbent personnel of the BuCor who fail
to satisfy any of the requirements enumerated under this section
shall be separated from the service if they are below fifty (50)
years of age and have served in the government for less than
twenty (20) years, or retired if they are fifty (50) years and above
and have served in the government for at least twenty (20) years
without prejudice in either case to the payment of benefits they
may be entitled to under existing laws.
 8

(c) For sustained professionalism in the service, the BuCor

is directed to conduct study for the feasible establishment ofthe
Philippine Corrections Academy, patterned after the Philippine
National Police Academy (pNPA) of the Philippine National Police
(PNP) and the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ofthe Armed
Forces of Philippines (AFP) for its commissioned officers.
(d) The BuCor shall continue training its personnel through
its Personnel Training School, which shall be renamed as
Corrections Training School/Institute patterned aftsr the BJMP's
Jail National Training Institute (JNTI), the Bureau of Fire 's Fire
National Training Institute (FNTI) and the PNP's National
Tl'aining Institute (PNTI).
SEC. 12. Appointment of Personnel to the BuCor. - The
appoinJmentofthe RuCor shall be effected in the following manner:
(a) Corrections Officer I to Corrections Chief Superintendent
- Appointed by the Director General of Corrections, and attested
by the Civil Service Commission (CSC); and
(b) Director General of' Corrections and Deputy Director
of Corrections -- Appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary ofthe DOJ, with the proper
endorsement by the Chairman of the CSC.
SEC. 13. Lateral Entry of Officer into the BuCor. - In
general, all original appointments of officers in the BuCor shall
commence with the rank of Corrections Inspector wherein
applicants for lateral entry into the BuCor shall include all those
with highly specialized and technical qualifications such as, but
not limited to, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical
engineers, chemical engineers, chemists, architects, criminologists,
certified public accountants, nurses, physical therapists, dentists,
social workers, psychologists, sociologists, guidance counselors and
teachers. Doctors of Medicine ,members of the Philippine Bar and
chaplains shall be appointed to the rank of Corrections Senior
Inspector in their particular technical service.
SEC. 14. Professionalization and Upgrading of
Qualification Standards in the Designation of Personnel of the
BuCor to Key Positions. -
(a) No person shall be designated to the following key positions
ofthe BuCor unless one has met the qualifications provided therein:
 9

(1) Sub-Colony Supervisor - Should have the rank of

Senior Inspector, who must have finished at least second year
Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twelve (12) units in a master's
degree program in management, public administration, pubhc
safety, criminology, penology, soclOlogy, national secunty
administration, defense studies or other related disciplines from
a recognized institution oflearmng, and must have satisfactorily
passed the necessary traimng or career Courses for such posItion
as may be established by the BuCor;
(2) Colony Assistant Superintendent - Should have the
rank of ChiefInspector, who must have flillshed at least second
year Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twenty-four (24) units in
a master's degree program 1D management, pubhc administration,
public safety, criminology, penology, sociology, national security
administration, defense studies or other related disciplines from'
a recognized institution ofIcarning, and must have satisfactorily
passed the necessary training or career courses for such position
as may be established by the BuCor;
(3) Colony Superintendent - Should have the rank of
Superintendent, who must be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a
holder of a master's degree in management, public administration,
public safety, criminology, penology, SOCIOlogy, national security
administration, defense stumes or other related disclplines from a
recognized institution oflearning, and ill liSt have satIsfactorily passed
the necessary training or career courses for such position as may be
established by the BuCor: Provided, That in prison and penal farms
with an inmate populatIOn oftwo thousand (2,000) but below three
thousand (3,000), the Colony Superintendent shall have the rank
and qualification of a Colony Senior Supermtendent; and
(4) Regional Superintendent - Should have the rank of
Sernor Superintendent or Chief Superintendent, who must be a
graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a master's degree in
management, public admimstration, public safety, CrIminology,
penology, sociology, national security administratIon, defense
studies or other related diSCIplines from a recognized institution
oflearning, and must have satisfactorily passed the necessary
training or career courses for such position as may be established
by the BuCor: Provided, That in prison and penal farms with an
inmate population of three thousand (3,000) but below five
thousand (5,000), the Regional Superintendent shall have the rank
and qualification of a Colony Senior Superintendent:
 10

Provided, further, That in prison and penal farms ~ith an

inmate population of over five thousand (5,000), the Regional
Superintendent shall have the rank and qualification of a Chief
Superintendent.
Any personnel of the BuCor who is currently occupying
such position but lacks any of the qualifications mentioned therein
shall be given five (5) years to comply with the requirements;
otherwise, the personnel shall be relieved from the positiqn.
SEC. 15. Professionai.izationand Qualifications Upgrading
Program. The DOJ shall design and establish a
professionalization and qualifications upgrading program for
personnel of the BuCor, in coordination with the CSC and the
Commission on Higher Education (CRED), through an off-campus
education program or other similar programs within ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 16. Attrition System for the Personnel of the BuCor.
- There shall be established a system of attrition for the petsonnel
of the BuCor within five (5) years from the effectivity oftrus Act,
to be submitted by the said bureau to the DOJ for approvaL Such
attrition system shall include, but is not limited to, the provision
of the following principles:
(a) Attrition by Demotion in Position or Rank :.. Any
personnelofthe BuGor who is relieved and assigned to a position
lower than what is established for the grade in the respective
staffing pattern, and who shall not be assigned to a p:osition
commensurate to one's grade within two (2) years aft~r such
demotion in position shall be separated or retired from the service;
(b) Attrition by Non-Promotion - Any personnel of the
BuCor who has not been promoted for a continuous period of ten
(10) years shall be separated or retired from the service, except
for those who are occupying a third level position;
(c) Attrition by Other Means - Any personnel ofth~ BuCor
with at least five (5) years of accumulated active service ~hall be
separated from the service based on any of the following factors:
(1) Inefficiency based on poor performance during the last
two (2) successive semestral rating periods;
(2) Inefficiency based on poor performance for three (3)
cumulative semestral rating periods;
 II

(3) Physical andlor mental incapacity to perform one's

duties and functions; or
(4) Failure to complete the required career courses andlor
appropriate civil service eligibility for hislher pOSItion except for
justifiable cause or reason; and
(d) SeparatlOn or Retirement from the RuCor under this
Section - Any personnel who is dIsmissed from the RuCor
pursuant to the above-enumerated principles m this section shall
be separated If one has rendered less than twenty (20) years of
service, and be retired if one has rendered at least twenty (ZO)
years of service unless the concerned personnel is disqualified by
law to receive such benefIts.
SEC. 17. Promotion System for the Personnel of the
Bu.Cor. - Within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act,
the RuCor shall establish a system of promotion for the personnel
of the RuCor through the following principles:
(a) RatlOnalized Promotion System - The system of
promotion shall be based on merit and on the availability of vacant
ranks in the RuCor staffing' pattern. Such system shall be gender-
fair so as to ensure that women personnel of the RuCor shall
enjoy equal opportunity for promotion as to men;
(b) Requirements for Promotion-
(1) Any personnel of the RuCor shall not be eligible for
promotion to a higher rank unless one has met the minim urn
qualification standards or the appropriate civil service ehgibility
set by the CSC, and has satisfactorily passed the required
psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical test; and
(2) Any personnel of the RuCor who has exhibIted acts of
conspICUOUS courage and gallantry at the risk of one's life above
and beyond the call of duty, or selected as such in a natlOnwide
search conducted by any accredIted civic org'anization, shall be
promoted to the next higher rank: Provided, That these shall be
validated~by the DOJ and the CSC based on established criteria.

SlCC. 18. Performance Eoaluation System. - (a) There

shall be established a performance evaluation system which shall
be administered in accordance with the rules, regulations and
standards, and a code of conduct for thc personnel of the BuCor to
 12

be promulgated by the BuCor through the DOJ. Such

performance evaluation system shall be administered in such a
way as to foster the improvement of the individual efficiency and
behavioral discipline, as well as the promotion of organizational
effectiveness and commitment to public service.
(b) The rating system as contemplated herein shall be based
on standards prescribed by the BuCor through the DOJ and shall
be considered the result of the annual psychiatric/psychological
and physical test conducted on the personnel ofthe BuCor.
SEC. 19. Standardizatwn of the Base Pay and Other Benefits
of the Uniformed Personnel of the BuCor. - In order to enhance
the general welfare, commitment to service and professionalism,
the following are considered uniformed personnel of the BuCor:

CUSTODIAL RANK REFORMATION RANK

Corrections Chief
Superintendent
Corrections Senior Corrections Techlllcal Senior
Superintendent Superintendent
Corrections Superintendent CorrectIOns Techmcal
Superintendent

Corrections Chief Inspector Corrections Technical Chief

Inspector

Corrections Senior Inspector Corrections Technical Seni6r

Inspector
Corrections Inspector Corrections Technical Inspector

Corrections Senior Officer IV Corrections Technical Senior

Officer IV

Corrections Senior Officer III Corrections Technical Senior

Officer III !

Corrections Senior Officer II Corrections Technical Seni~r

Officer II
Corrections Senior Officer I Corrections Technical Senior
Officer I

Corrections Officer III Corrections Technical Officer III

Corrections Officer II Corrections Technical Officer II

Corrections Officer I Corrections Technical Officer 1

 13

The DBM shall determine the equivalent rank of the

uniformed personnel of the BuCor patterned after the eXIsting
ranks of the military and uniformed personnel of other
departments.
The base pay, allowances and other benefits of the
abovementioned personnel shall be in accordance witb the existing
compensatIon and position classification laws and regulations.
SEC. 20. Retirement Benefits. - Upon compulsory
retIrement, any custodial officer from the rank of Corrections
Chief Superintendent and below shall be entitled to retirement
benefits computed on the basis of one grade higher than the posItion
last held: Provided, That the retirement pay shall be subject to
adjustment/s based on the prevailing scale of base pay of the
uniformed personnel in the active service.
SEC. 21. Funding Source. - The funds required for the
implementation oftms Act including personnel benefits shall be
taken from the budget of the BuCor for the current fiscal year
and also from the following:
(a) Collections from clearances and certification fees;
(b) Income from institutional projects subject to
memoranda of agreements (MOAs), contracts or joint venture
agreements; and
(c) Other miscellaneous incomes (outside MOAs and
contracts), such as:
(1) Penal farm agro-production; and
(2) Inmate handicraft industry.
Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary to
implement this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.
SEC. 22. Implementation. - The implementation of
this Act shall be undertaken in staggered phases, but not to
exceed fIve (5) years, taking into consideration the financial
position of the national government: Provided, That any
partial implementation shall be uniform and proportionate for
all ranks.
 14

SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. .,.. The

DOJ; in coordination with the BuCor, the CSC, the DBM and the
Department of Finance (DOF), shall, within ninety (90) da;s from
the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and regu\ations
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 24. Transitory Provisions. - (a) The incumbent
Director and two (2) incumbent Assistant Directors shall serve
under the terms for which they have been appointed without need
of new appointments upon the enactment of this Act.
(h) All incumbent personnel who, upon the effectiyity of
this Act, shall opt to early or optionally retire from the service
will be entitled to the retirement benefits computed as fo~ows:
,

Age Age Basis for Computing Benefits

57 62
58 63
59 64
60 65 I

(c) All incumbent personnel, upon the effectivity of this

Act, may continue to render services until one reaches the
compulsory age of retirement for public officers of sixty-five (65).
Those who shall· be newly hired will have a compulsory age
retirement of fifty-six (56) years pursuant to the prevailing
provisions on retirement age ofthose who are in the unifprmed
.
serVIces.
,

SEC. 25. Annual Report. - The BuCor, through tlte DOJ

and the DEM, shall jointly submit to the President of the Senate
and the Speaker ofthe House of Representatives an annual report
on the implementation of this Act. This report shall include
information on the application of the budget for the salary and
other benefits provided under this Act. The DBM, in consultation
with the BuCor through the DOJ, shall periodically review , and
adjust every five (5) years the rates of base pay, takin;g into
consideration labor productivity, consumer price index; oil price
and other similar economic indicators as may be determihed by
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
 15

SEC. 26. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision

of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect
the validity and effectivity of the other provisions not affected
thereby.
SEC. 27. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which
are inconsistent with the provisIOns of this Act are hereby deemed
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 28. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its complete pubhcation in the Official
Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general clrculatlOn,
whichever comes earlier

Approved,

d?':~ /7-:....-----
FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.
Speaker oj the House
oj Representatives

This Act wluch is a consolidation of House Bill No. 6887

and Senate Bill No. 3335 was finally passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate on February 5, 2013 and
February 6, 2013, respectively.

~EL~ hM~ARU'~
~
Acting Senate Secretary Secretary Gene/f(- 1--\t'
House of Representatives

Approved: 'W.Y· '2 '4' 2013'

/""

Bt;d~il~ III