MANILA, June 21 -- Prison officials are in talks with indigenous peoples to craft a land use plan for regional prisons.

In a statement Saturday, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said it initiated a collaborative dialogue with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to optimize land allocation for the establishment of regional facilities.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and NCIP Chairperson Dr. Marie Grace Pascua met at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa Friday, where they agreed to come up with a technical working group that will assess feasible solutions that balance the goals of both agencies.

Pascua commended BuCor for its focus on the rehabilitation of individuals deprived of liberty.

She com...