7 PENAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City

The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, Philippines, is the main

insular penitentiary designed to house the prison population of
thePhilippines. It is maintained by the Bureau of
Corrections (BuCor) under the Department of Justice. As of
October 2004, it has an inmate population of 16,747. The
penitentiary had an initial land area of 551 hectares. One
hundred four hectares of the facility were transferred to a
housing project of the Department of Justice. The Bureau of
Corrections has its headquarters in the NBP Reservation.

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2. The Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong
City / and The CIW Mindanao, Panabo, Davao

The Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) is a women's prison

located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The prison is
operated by the Bureau of Corrections.

CIWM is the most recent facility organized in the Bureau of

Corrections. It was only inaugurated in September 18, 2007, the
second institution which branched out from the first and only
penal establishment dedicated in rehabilitating female
offenders. (The first, which was founded in 1932 is the
Correctional Institution for Women situated in Mandaluyong City,
Metro Manila). It was during the incumbency of Secretary of
Justice Agnes VST Devanadera when it was formally opened.

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3. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa

City, Palawan, Philippines is one of seven operating units of
the Bureau of Corrections under the Department of Justice.
The Spanish regime had earlier designated Puerto Princesa,
Palawan as a place where offenders sentenced to banishment
were exiled, but the facility was established only during the
American occupation. Governor Luke Wright authorized the
establishment of a penal colony in the province or Palawanon
November 16, 1904. This penal settlement, which originally
comprised an area of 22 acres, served as a depository for
prisoners who could not be accommodated at the Bilibid Prison in
Manila. A prison facility was created by the
American military in the rain forest of Puerto Princesa.
Lieutenant George Wolfe, a member of the U.S. expeditionary
force was the prison's first Director.

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4. Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro

Nearer to Manila than other penal colonies, the Sablayan Penal

Colony is located in Occidental Mindoro and relatively new.
Established on September 26, 1954 by virtue of Presidential
Proclamation No. 72, the penal colony has a total land area of
approximately 16,190 hectares. Prison records show that the
first colonists and employees arrived in Sablayan on January 15,
1955. Since then several buildings have been constructed,
including the colonists’ dormitories, employees’ quarters,
guardhouse, schoolhouse, chapel, recreation hall, and post
exchange.

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5. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City

The San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm is situated in Zamboanga

City, Philippines. It was established to house the Muslim rebels
and prisoners opposing the Spanish leadership. The prison is
right in front of the Jolo sea and is sprawled within a 1, 414-
hectare property.
It was on August 21, 1869 when the San Ramon Prison and Penal
Farm was built. Decades later, when the Americans took over the
country, the Bureau of Prisons was created under the supervision
of the Department of Commerce and Police.
Due to the havoc wreaked by the Spanish-American war, the penal
farm was destroyed. In 1907, it was then re-established and
started to house prisoners from Mindanao. By 1915, it was placed
under the protection of the Bureau of Prisons.

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6. Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte

LEYTE REGIONAL PRISON: The Leyte Regional Prison, situated in

Abuyog, Southern Leyte, was established a year after the
declaration of martial law in 1972 by virtue of Presidential
Decree No. 28. While its plantilla and institutional plan were
almost ideal, lack of funds made the prison unable to realize
its full potential and its facilities are often below par
compared with those of other established penal farms.

The LRP has an inmate capacity of 500. It follows the same

agricultural format as the main correctional program in addition
to some rehabilitation activities. The prison admits convicted
offenders from Region VI and from the national penitentiary in
Muntinlupa.

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7. Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Panabo, Davao

Davao Prison and Penal Farm (formerly Davao Penal Colony

(DaPeCol)) was established on January 21, 1932 in Panabo
City, Davao del Norte, Philippines. It has a land area of 30,000
hectares with a prison reservation of 8,000 hectares. During
World War II, the Davao Penal Colony was the biggest prison
establishment in the country which was used by the Japanese
invading army as their imperial garrison.
On October 7, 1931, Governor Dwight Davis signed proclamation
414 which reserved a site for Penal Colony in Davao Province in
Mindanao and on January 21, 1932 by virtue of Act No. 3732, the
Davao Penal Colony was formally established. During World War
II, it was used by the Philippine-American Armed Forces were
more than 1000 Japanese were treated in accordance with the
orders of American commanding officer. The Japanese Imperial
Forces attacked Davao on December 20, 1941 and the colony was
among of the establishments that were taken over by the imperial
army.