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.