THE PHILIPPINE PRISON SYSTEM ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN 1,500 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING 8 PRISONS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PRISONS, 72 PROVINCIAL JAILS ADMINISTERED BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR, AND 65 CITY AND 1,447 MUNICIPAL JAILS ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES UNDER THE INTEGRATED NATIONAL POLICE. THE SYSTEM SUFFERS FROM PROBLEMS RELATED TO FRAGMENTATION, OVERCROWDING, A DEFECTIVE PAROLE SYSTEM, INADEQUATE COUNSELING SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS, LIMITED COMMUNITY-BASED, EDUCATIONAL, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCREASES IN PROVINCIAL JAIL POPULATIONS, INADEQUATE FUNDING, AND TRADITIONALISM. ALTHOUGH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS, THE PROJECTS ARE NOT COORDINATED AND FEW ARE ORIENTED TOWARD CRIME PREVENTION AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE ON CRIME PREVENTION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION ARE NOTED, AND THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES SET FORTH IN THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR CRIME REDUCTION ARE OUTLINED. THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN CORRECTIONS, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR OFFENDERS, IS POINTED OUT. A PLAN FOR A NATIONAL PROJECT AIMED AT PROMOTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS IS PROPOSED. -- LM