MANILA – Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has ordered the modification of training courses for prison management officers in a bid to attract more applicants and meet the requirements of the agency.
Catapang issued the directive as the BuCor is presently experiencing shortages of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, guidance counselors, priests, and other highly technical professions due to tedious physical activities in training when applying for the job, according to a Thursday news release.
For instance, the BuCor chief noted the ratio for doctors bureau-wide is one doctor per 5,371 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), compared to the ideal ratio of one doctor per 700 PDLs.
“(T)he gap will be aggravated with the impending retirement of one out of the 10 doctors in the service by the end of this year, and two more to retire by next year,“ Catapang said.
“Natatakot kasi ang mga applikante na mag apply kasi takot sila sa physical training, at syempre ayaw nila mag pa haircut (Applicants are apprehensive of the physical training, and don’t want to have their hair cut),” he said.
To address this, Catapang said the bureau will make some adjustments for applicants with highly technical qualifications by shortening their training to 45 days instead of six months, and limit their training to an executive training course sans the tedious physical activities.
He said their training will be limited to orientation on the BuCor’s mandates, missions and vision, as well as discussions on prison rules and regulations and duties and responsibilities of their ranks, including the regimented nature of work under the uniformed service, among others.
With regard to haircuts, they will no longer be required to sport military haircut, but will just be allowed to wear short hair, Catapang added. (PNA)
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