SEVEN PENAL

INSTITUTIONS OF
THE PHILIPPINES
New Bilibid Prison (NBP) - Muntinlupa City
 
• It is maintained by the Bureau of Corrections
(BuCor) under the Philippine 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. 104 hectares of the facility were
transferred to a housing project of the Department
of Justice.
BUCOR HEAD- GERALD Q. BANTAG -DIRECTOR GENERAL
• Initially named Carcel y Presidio Correccional
which housed about 1,127 prisoners all over the
Philippines, located in Azcarraga, Manila.

• The old Bilibid prison in Manila was renamed as

Manila City jail

• Name development: Carcel

y Presidio Correccional- Old bilibid- New Bilibid
 THE THREE SECURITY CAMPS

1. The Maximum Security compound

• houses convicts whose sentences are 20 years and above,

• life termer or those under the capital punishment
including the death row
• those with pending cases
• those under disciplinary punishment
• those whose cases are on appeal
• those under detention
• those that do not fall under medium and minimum
status.
2. Camp Sampaguita

• houses medium security prisoners

• those with less than 20 years sentence,
• remand inmates or detainees below 20 years
sentence
• 18 years old and below regardless of case or sentence
• those who have 2 or more escape records but have
served 8 years since recommitment
3. Camp Bukang Liwayway

• The minimum-security camp

• The name implying the coming release of prisoners destined
here. This is an open camp with less restrictions and
regimentation.
• This is for prisoners who are 65 years old and above, medically
certified invalids and for those prisoners who have six months or
less to serve before they are released from prison.
• those with one record of escaped but have served five (5) years
as maximum security and upon recommendation of the
superintendent requirements only.
Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
 
• This facility was established 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, originally served as  a
depository for prisoners who could not be
accommodated at the Bilibid Prison in Manila. 
• Lieutenant George Wolfe, a member of the U.S.
expeditionary force was the prison's first Director.
• The settlement was at first beset by attempted
escapes.  But under the supervision of Col. John
R. White of the Philippine Constabulary, who
would become superintendent of Iwahig in 1906,
the colony became a successful settlement. 
• A merit system was devised for the prisoners and vocational
activities were offered.  These included farming, fishing,
forestry, carpentry, and hospital paramedical work. Prisoners
could choose the vocational activities they wanted.

• The Iwahig Penal Colony rather than a destination for

maximum security incorrigible prisoners, instead convicts who
were well behaved and pliable were assigned to this facility
“Prison without Wall” divided into four (4) sub-
colonies:

1. Santa Lucia- 9,685 hectares

2. Montible - 8,000 hectares
3. Inagawan - 13,000 hectares
4. Central-14,700 hectares
• Tagumpay Settlement - The colony allocated
1,000 hectares, which was distributed to release
inmates who no longer had any desire to return
to their original homes and who instead want to
settle for good in Palawan. Awarded six (6)
hectares farm lots as homestead.
• The principal activity here as in any penal colony of the
country is agriculture and rice is the main product that
is not only used by the inmate of the colony but also
supplying some of the rice needs of the New Bilibid
Prison.
• The land area was expanded to 41,007 hectares as
ordered by Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15,
1912 by virtue of Executive Order number 67.
IWAHIG – CSUPT JOEL CALVELO
Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm
Occidental Mindoro 
• Established on September 27, 1954 by virtue of
Presidential Proclamation No. 72, the penal colony
has a total land area of approximately 16,190
hectares.  .
• The Sablayan Penal Colony and farm was established
to meet the increasing population of prisoners that is
already causing serious congestion. This Penal is
intended for agro-industrial activities.
four sub-colonies:
(l)Central sub colony
(2)Pasugtll sub colony
(3)Pusog sub colony
(4)Yapang sub colony

• All those colonies are administered by penal

supervisor.
CSINSP JOEL MARNOLD IN
SABLAYAN
San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm 
Zamboanga City
• Operated on August 21, 1870.
• Was named in memory of its founder, Ramon Blanco, a
Spanish captain in the Royal Army.
• originally established for persons convicted of political
crimes.
• During the Spanish-American War in 1898, the prisoners
in San Ramon were hastily released and the buildings
destroyed. 
• In 1907, the American administration re-established the
prison farm. 
• In 1912, Gen. John Pershing, chief executive
of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu,
classified the institution as a prison and penal
colony and therein confined people
sentenced by the courts under his
jurisdiction.  Under Pershing’s supervision,
several buildings with a capacity for 600
prisoners were constructed. 
• After several years, the colony became practically self-
supporting, with 75,000 coconut trees, which were
planted at the beginning of Pershing’s administration,
contributing to the colony’s self-sufficiency.  Aside from
coconuts, rice, corn, papaya and other crops were also
cultivated.  
• This Penal Prison and Farm has an aggregate area of
1,160 hectares
• Presently, it houses maximum, medium and minimum-
security prisoners.
Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte
• This was established in January 16, 1973 on the
orders issued under Martial Law by President
Ferdinand E. Marcos 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.
• Has an inmate capacity of 500. It follows the same
agricultural format as the main correctional program in
addition to some rehabilitation activities.
• Savings Box for Handicraft Workers by External Affairs
Section
• The prison admits convicted offenders from Region VI
and from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa.
• enclosed community - medium and maximum
security
• Open community- minimum security.
CTSINSP FRANCISCO
SALVADOR JR IN LRP
Davao Prison and Penal Farm
in Tagum, Davao 
• was established on January 21, 1932
• It has a land area of 30,000 hectares with a prison
reservation of 8,000 hectares.
• Retired General Paulino Santos, the incumbent Prisons
Director at the time led the first contingent of prisoners that
opened the colony that covers an area of about 18,000
hectares.
• At present, the Davao penal Colony houses medium and
minimum-security prisoners. They work in the open fields
escorted by the colony custodial force.
• It has become the largest source of revenue for the Bureau of
Prisons producing abaca, banana, rice, copra, cattle and other
farm products. It is now the biggest abaca plantation in the
country.
• But aside from abaca, it is also a major banana producer having
secured a joint venture agreement with Tagum Development
Company with a 3,000-hectare banana plantation. These banana
products are exported to Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and many
other countries. If fully utilized, its landholdings can meet the
needs of the whole inmate population of the Bureau of
Corrections.
• Davao Penal Colony has two sub-colonies with each
under a penal supervisor:
a. the Panabo sub-colony
b. the Kapalong sub-colony

• Tanglaw Settlement- a settlement site for released

Prisoners who no longer wish to return to their
homes but choose to remain in Davao as
homesteaders.
 CTSSUPT ALBERT
MANALO IN DAVAO
PPF
The Correctional Institution for Women
(CIW) in Mandaluyong CitY
• a women's prison operated by the 
Bureau of Corrections.
• In a report dated January 22, 1959, submitted to a
committee created by Administrative Order No. 287 by
the President of the Philippines, it was noted that 
“before a separate building was constructed especially
for women prisoners, all female convicts were confined
at the Old Bilibid Prison on Azcarraga St., Manila. 
• The male prisoners were confined in dormitories near the
women’s quarters.  Because of these conditions, vocational
activities of the women prisoners were limited to
embroidery.  When they became ill, the women were
confined in a separate building which served as a hospital
with nurses and prison physicians.  When women prisoners
needed surgery, they were operated on at the Bilibid
Prison. After the operation, they were transferred to the
infirmary for convalescence.
• After a series of negotiations started by Prison
Director Ramon Victorio, the Philippine Legislature
passed Republic Act No. 3579 in November, 1929. It
authorized the transfer of all women inmates to a
building in Welfare Ville at Mandaluyong, Rizal and
appropriated P60, 000 for the move.
• Its old name, “Women’s Prison was changed to
“Correctional Institution for Women.”
• This Penal institution was constructed on an 18-
hectare piece of land. Before the construction of this
women institution, prisoners were confined in
portion of the Bilibid Prison.

• The prisoner’s vocational activities were expanded

to include poultry and piggery as well as cultivation
of crops, flowers and fruits.
CCINSP HYLENE
PANCHO IN CIW